Sneezing
Sneezing is a reflexive action that plays a crucial role in the respiratory system's defense against foreign particles. It occurs when the nasal lining is irritated by airborne contaminants such as dust or pollen, prompting the brain to activate the sneeze reflex. This results in a powerful expulsion of air from the lungs through the nasal cavity, which helps clear the irritants. Sneezing cannot be performed voluntarily and attempts to suppress it may lead to increased pressure in the body. Certain conditions, like nasal congestion from infections or allergies, can enhance the frequency of sneezing. Interestingly, a phenomenon known as the photic sneeze reflex can cause some individuals to sneeze when exposed to bright light. The act of sneezing is vital for filtering harmful particles from the air we breathe, and traditional treatments, such as steam inhalation, remain popular for alleviating its symptoms. Overall, sneezing is an essential protective mechanism that helps maintain respiratory health.
Sneezing
Anatomy or system affected:Chest, immune system, lungs, nose, respiratory system
Definition:A physiological act in which air is forcibly expelled through the nose via a reflex spasm of chest and pharynx muscles.
Causes and Symptoms
During the breathing process, the lung part of the chest cavity expands and air is allowed to flow in. When impulses that cause excitation reach a threshold level in the nasal lining, a message is transferred to the sneeze reflex center of the brain via the sensory nerves. At that point, the stimulus provides the chest muscles with the signal to convulse and therefore squeeze the lungs. The contracted muscles in the pharynx block the exit of the air from the mouth and instead detour it through the nasal cavity and out into the atmosphere. The phenomenon of genuine sneezing cannot be performed voluntarily and, at the same time, cannot be easily suppressed. In fact, suppression may create an increase in pressure in the acoustic part of the body, with occasional serious results.
During inhalation, air is inserted through the nostrils, heated to body temperature, humidified, and, finally, filtered of foreign contaminants (such as bacteria and dust particles) before it enters the lungs. When the air contains a large quantity of particles, such as dust or pollen, or if it is drier or colder than expected, sneezing occurs. The main reason for this reaction is irritation of the nerve endings, which is temporarily relieved by the explosive blowing of air during sneezing. The process is intensified in children and adults by several nasal disorders, such as congestion attributed to bacterial infection, cold, allergy created by foreign particles, pressure, or a growth inside the nostril. Additionally, up to one-third of the population tends to sneeze when exposed to a sudden bright light, a reaction termed photic sneeze reflex (also known as photoptarmosis) that may be genetic.
Treatment and Therapy
In a way similar to coughing, in which air is expelled through the mouth, sneezing has a protective role in breathing. The hairs inside the nostrils, known as cilia, serve as the filtering device and, when they cannot trap the contaminants, as the instigators for the irritation of the nerve endings. Their presence is, therefore, instrumental in protecting the windpipe from the solid particles suspended in air. Parents may have a young child blow their nose to remove the trapped particles in the nasal mucus. This action should be performed with the minimum damage of the capillaries, which may collapse and lead to a nosebleed, possibly followed by an infection.
Perspective and Prospects
Sneezing is very important because it serves as the first weapon of the respiratory system’s defense against invading foreign particles. The search goes on for inhalers and other medications to relieve the effects of sneezing, as well as for various means to release the pressure created by the common cold and rhinoviruses. The traditional methods of soothing nerve endings with steam and other vaporizers are still dependable and help in avoiding the subsequent spread of the more serious viral infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Bibliography
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Fowler, Michael A., and Nancy McKemie. What's the Reason for All That Sneezing and Wheezing? Fireship Press, 2012.
Karpa, Kelly Dowhower. “The Assault on Allergies: From Diagnostics to Treatments.” Drug Topics, June 2000, pp. 12S–16S.
McCarthy, Robert. “New Approaches to Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.” Patient Care, vol. 34, no. 19, Oct. 15, 2000, pp. 108–118.
Miller, Kathryn E., and Ian M. Mackay. "From Sneeze to Wheeze: What We Know About Rhinovirus Cs." Journal of Clinical Virology, vol. 57, no 4, Aug. 2013, pp. 291–299.
Ross-Flanigan, Nancy. “Nothing to Sneeze At.” Health, vol. 14, no. 3, Apr. 2000, pp. 102–104.
"Sneezing." Medline Plus, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003060.htm. Accessed 15 July 2023.