{"id":20317,"date":"2023-02-24T10:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20317"},"modified":"2023-03-03T14:33:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T19:33:21","slug":"what-your-sneeze-says-about-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/advice\/what-your-sneeze-says-about-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What Your Sneeze Says About You"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many parts of the country, spring may be just around the corner. Lots of us are looking forward to singing birds, leafing trees and blooming flowers \u2014 but there\u2019s another side to this vernal weather. Seasonal allergies, prevalent during warmer seasons when pollen is plentiful and <\/span>pet dander flies free<\/span><\/a>, have also arrived.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you get seasonal allergies or not, we all know that familiar tickling sensation in your nose, face and airways. Sneezing is the body\u2019s way of expelling irritants, sometimes to the point of irritation itself. Besides pollen and pet dander, an excess of dust, dust mites, cigarette smoke and even mold spores can all stir something primordial in our lungs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We caught up with the pros to talk about this basic physiological response. What kinds of sneezes are there? When should we start worrying? How do we stop a sneeze-in-progress? What can our noses tell us about when we should see a doctor \u2014 and when we should just let a loud one go?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The basics<\/h3>\n

Sneezing is a response to irritated airways and lungs. It often flares up alongside sources of irritation like pet dander, changes in weather, pollen and\/or illness. Multiple sneezes in quick succession can be a sign of a \u201cpersistent irritant or allergen,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Qaisar Usmani<\/span><\/a>, a rheumatologist in Hamlin, New Jersey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although this reflex is just a sign of a functional body, things can get out of hand. Brand-new or seasonal flare-ups can signal fresh irritants in your environment. Paying attention to your sneezing patterns can help you identify allergies or something more serious. <\/span>Christine Kingsley<\/span><\/a>, an advanced practice registered nurse in Manchester, Connecticut, says that frequent sneezing is often a sign of underlying conditions such as allergies, a cold or sinusitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf sneezing is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a fever, a severe headache or a loss of sense of smell, it may indicate a more serious underlying condition,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing other alarming symptoms, like sneezing up blood, it\u2019s best to book a doctor\u2019s appointment ASAP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What your sneeze says about you<\/h3>\n

Just as we speak differently, we also sneeze differently. The aural qualities of our bespoke sneezes are part physiological and part personality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople sneeze differently because of differences in their lung capacity, the amount of air they breathe prior to the sneeze and structural differences within the nose, throat and mouth,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Rosmy Barrios<\/span><\/a>, a regenerative medicine specialist in Belgrade, Serbia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Body mass and shape play a part too. \u201cA bigger body tends to hold more air and generate greater force while sneezing,\u201d she says. \u201cThe shape of your face also has an impact on how you sneeze.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional states like anxiety, excitement or embarrassment, cultural attitudes towards sneezing and even the way you breathe can also affect the volume and pitch of a sneeze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who find sneezing refreshing are more likely to make a louder sound, because they don\u2019t want to hold it in,\u201d Usmani says. \u201cOn the other hand, people who are embarrassed tend to sneeze quietly and make an effort to hold it in.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Usmani identified a few common sneezes for us:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The basic sneeze:<\/b> a sudden forceful exhale of air through the mouth and nose<\/span><\/p>\n

Silent sneeze: <\/b>characterized by lack of sound\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sternutatory sneezes: <\/b>more powerful and explosive than basic sneezes<\/span><\/p>\n

Super sneezes: <\/b>strong and powerful sneezes that can cause discomfort and pain in the nose, eyes and head\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Putting a cork on it<\/h3>\n

What\u2019s the best way to stop a sneeze? The experts say just don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t recommend suppressing your sneeze, because it is a natural reflex action of your body in response to irritants,\u201d Barrios says. \u201cWhen you try to hold a sneeze in, you\u2019re basically directing that force within your body, which can cause damage to your eardrums, blood vessels and even your throat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sneezes can expel enough energy to shake the whole body. Redirecting it inward might keep noise and some of the bacteria down, but at direct risk to our innards. So when you feel that telltale tickle, reconsider halting that sneeze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Need a doctor’s appointment? Find one on Zocdoc<\/a>.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just as we speak differently, we also sneeze differently. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":20318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Your Sneeze Says About You - Advice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Just as we speak differently, we also sneeze differently.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/advice\/what-your-sneeze-says-about-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Your Sneeze Says About You - 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