Prompt Cast
The Science of Sneezing: Causes and Reactions
TLDR Sneezing is an involuntary response triggered by irritants in the nose, involving muscle groups and coordinated by the brain's sneezing center. Covering your mouth and nose when sneezing helps prevent the spread of particles and contagion, while saying "bless you" is now seen as a kind gesture.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Sneezing is an efficient system that allows the body to expel irritants from the nose and nasal passage.
04:55
Sneezing is a response triggered by specialized cells in the nasal mucosa that release histamines when particles irritate the nose, causing a runny nose and signaling the brain to initiate a sneeze to expel the irritants.
09:45
Sneezing is an involuntary reaction to an external stimuli in your nose, involving a lot of muscle groups and expelling air with a lot of force to get irritants out of your nose.
14:31
The sneezing center in the brain is responsible for coordinating the involuntary response of sneezing, as evidenced by a case study of a fisherman who developed a lesion in his lateral medulla after a series of violent sneezes.
19:19
The most common cause of a sneeze is rhinitis, which is inflammation and swelling of the mucus membrane due to allergies, pollen, or a cold, but there are other types of rhinitis that can also cause sneezing.
24:26
Photic sneezing can be inherited through autosomal dominant inheritance and is passed down in certain families, while there are also other rare sneezing patterns such as snatiation, where eating too much triggers a sneezing attack.
29:26
Intractable sneezing, which is almost exclusive to young women going through puberty, can cause sneezing fits that can last for days or even years.
34:23
Sneezing in your sleep is impossible because your brain isn't functioning correctly, and a girl who sneezed every minute for a year would have had a really rough time.
39:22
Covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze, either with your elbow or a tissue, and washing your hands thoroughly afterwards is the best way to prevent the spread of particles and contagion, especially in indoor environments.
43:59
Earlier Christian teachings encouraged people to ignore sneezes, but now saying "bless you" after someone sneezes is seen as a kind gesture and a brief connection between strangers.
48:39
Sneezing does not cause your heart to stop, sneezing after sex does not prevent pregnancy, and there have been rare cases of people rupturing their throat from trying to stifle a sneeze.
Categories:
Society & Culture
