Test Your Knowledge

A sneeze is a reflex response that involves the brain, the face, the throat, the chest and the abdominal muscles. It involves a sudden and forceful burst of air expelled from the nose and mouth. Particles expelled during sneezing can leave the body at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Everyone sneezes in response to something at some time. It is one way the body removes annoying irritants or intruders from the nasal passages. For people with allergies, sneezing can be a frequent occurrence that requires treatment for relief.

Treatment options for sneezing depend on what is causing the response. These causes may include:

• Irritation. A sneeze in response to an environmental irritant is treated by removing or avoiding the irritant.
  
  
• Foreign object. Should a foreign object get lodged in the nose (occurs most often in children), the sneeze itself may solve the problem.
  
  
• Infection. Sneezing related to a viral or bacterial infection is alleviated by treating the infection through either good hydration and rest, or medications.
  
  
• Allergies. Sneezing related to allergies will be relieved by treating the underlying condition.