Sneezing is the body’s way of removing an irritation from the nose. With the onset of seasonal spring allergies there’s a lot of going on these days.
Although it seems to be a basic bodily function, it is actually a complicated process involving muscles from many different areas of the body.
Some of the muscles that help during a sneeze come from: the stomach, chest, diaphragm, vocal cords and the muscles in the back of the throat. And don’t forget the eyelids! Not all sneezes occur for the same reason.
Most people sneeze because of animal dander, or pollen, which comes from plants. But, there is a type that affects one out of every three people. These people sneeze when they’re exposed to bright light. It’s the only kind of sneeze that is an inherited trait!
Doctors have a name for it. It’s called photic sneezing, because photic means light. So, the next time you get that “ah – choo” feeling think about the muscles that teamed up to get you through that one second!
Content provided by Oakland University