Have you ever sneezed due to a cold virus? Or perhaps something tickled your nose? Maybe you’ve sneezed two, three, or four times in a row?
We have all experienced different types of sneezing. It’s a shared human experience, and yet it comes as a quick surprise every time it happens. So, why exactly do we sneeze? Is it a natural defense mechanism, or is our body trying to tell us something?
Our staff members at the office of Dr. Mayank Shukla have done some research regarding the reasons behind the sneeze. Do some people sneeze more than others? Could it be the sign of a breathing issue?
Sneezing Can Be a Symptom
Sometimes, sneezing is an indication that you may be contracting a cold or a similar virus. Sneezing is one of the first and main symptoms of the common cold. If you start sneezing randomly, you may also be expecting the following symptoms on the way:
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Sore throat
Sneezing can also be a symptom of an allergic reaction. You may be able to separate your cold symptoms from the symptoms of an allergic reaction based on how you are feeling. Oftentimes, they can feel the same. For a more in-depth look at your options for allergy treatment in New York, contact Dr. Shukla today.
Some of the unique symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Runny and stuffy nose
- Itching around the eyes, nose, or mouth
- Watery or red eyes
If you are feeling any of these symptoms along with consistent sneezing, it’s important that you see your doctor right away for an effective treatment. Living with an allergy or a cold virus is never fun, and you’ll want to make sure you can get that taken care of right away.
What Causes Sneezing?
Now we know that sneezing can be the sign of a cold or an allergy on the way, but what exactly causes the sneezing reaction to occur? Why do our noses feel that way, and why do we get the urge to sneeze in the first place?
Essentially, a sneeze is the body’s way of trying to clear its air passages so that you can breathe clean air with no irritants in the way.
When an irritant like mucus, dust, germs, animal dander, pollen, or other pollutants get inside the nasal passages, they tend to tickle. This causes you to breathe in, and that’s when you can really feel these irritants on the lining of the nose. When this happens, you may start to feel your chest tighten and a pressure building up behind your nose. Then, your tongue presses against the roof of your mouth and you breathe very quickly through the nose – often causing a sound like achooo!
Sometimes, sneezes are fun or funny. Other times, they can be downright annoying. While sneezing is usually brought on due to the presence of irritants, there can be some other reasons for triggering a sneeze as well.
Other Reasons for Sneezes
Some people have the spontaneous need to sneeze after they’ve looked at a bright light, like the sun or a lamp. Sometimes, sniffing pepper or other spices can cause an ongoing fit of sneezes. Sometimes, people even feel the need to sneeze after a sexual release.
No matter the reason for the sneeze, it all forms the same way. When the nose feels irritated by a pollutant, whether physical or imaginary, it causes the chain reaction that forces pressure out of the airways, making you close your eyes tight as the pressure passes through you.
Allergy Treatment in New York
If you’re concerned with your sneezing patterns, or you have other questions regarding allergy treatment in New York, feel free to contact us as soon as possible. Our pulmonary medicine specialist, Dr. Mayank Shukla, is happy to assist you with your breathing concerns. To get in touch, simply contact us online or give us a call at (917) 924-6383. We look forward to consulting with you!
