Shooting the Breeze about Sneezing
By Patti A. Wood
Official spokesperson for Benadryl and creator of the
“Benadryl Sneeze Analysis”
What is a sneeze?
It is a sudden, violent, spasmodic, audible expiration of
breath through the nose and mouth.
What it going on in
the body during a sneeze?
Something irritates the lining in our nostrils. That
irritation excites your trigeminal nerve. (An excited nerve tends to get
frisky.) The impulse travels to a set of neurons in the brain stem called the
“sneezing center.” It’s a lot like an astronaut saying, “Houston, we have a
problem.” The center tells your body to rock and roll. The sneeze itself involves the chest,
abdomen, diaphragm, vocal chords, throat and eyelids. It sends impulses along
the facial nerve back to the nasal passages and causes your nasal passages to
secrete fluid and become congested. Then it sends impulses to your respiratory
muscles via the spinal column that causes the deep intake, followed by the
forceful expiration and the “achoo.” That’s how you release the irritant that's
causing the itch.
What makes us sneeze?
Several things: Cold
viruses make the nostrils extra-sensitive to irritants. Allergic reaction to
pollen can cause the nose to release histamines, which are irritating chemicals
that induce sneezing. Taking antihistamines blocks that natural release of
histamines.
Some other things that can make us sneeze include cold air,
humidity, irritants such as pepper or other smells, exposure to bright
sunlight( called the ACHOO syndrome), eating too much, cooling certain parts of
the skin, sexual excitement, hair pulling, shivering and even eyebrow plucking
( eyebrow plucking excites the branch of the nerve that supplies your nasal
passages). Sneeze Facts: People say they
sneeze more during allergy season than during cold and flu season. Up to 67
percent of people want to be prepared for their sneeze and 60 percent want to
control it. Maybe they should take Benadryl.
Can the light of the sun make you sneeze?
Bright sunlight causes one out of three people to sneeze.
The light sneezers are called “photics” from the Greek meaning “of light.”
Light sensitivity is an inherited trait. Just one more thing we can blame on
our parents.
Does global warming
cause sneezing?
Yes. Scientists at the USDA and others report, “… global
warming produces higher temperatures and increased levels of atmospheric carbon
dioxide, contributing to ragweed growing faster, flowering earlier, producing
significantly larger plants and generating more pollen in urban areas than
rural areas.” (from BusinessWire)
When are people most
bothered by other people’s sneezes?
Not surprisingly, they are most bothered while they’re
eating.
Are there any benefits
to sneezing?
If there is anything irritating your nose, the sneeze gets
it out. (However, it would be simpler, and less embarrassing to stop the
irritation with Benadryl.) Also, the Dalai Lama says that according to Buddhist
teachings, people can attain low level near-death awareness and “clear light”
by sneezing. (They also get this from falling asleep, yawning and orgasm.)
Why do we say “God
bless you”?
The word for sneeze in Greek is "pneuma" which
means "soul or spirit." A post-sneeze blessing stems from the ancient
belief that sneezing is a near-death experience, and that a blessing will
prevent your soul or sneeze from escaping your body and will deter the devil
from entering in.
The Romans used five different systems of omens to foretell
events. The fifth was called the Dira which covered events such as spilling
salt on the table, wine on our clothes, stumbling or sneezing. God bless you
was a common expression in Roman times. The sneeze was considered the same
thing as the soul until the sixteenth century when we found out what a
respiratory system was. It resembled what the Chinese call Chi and Hawaiians
call the HA as in HAwaii or AloHA and depending on the biblical translation of
Genesis, God's breath was upon the waters or His spirit was upon the waters
(they translate the same). A loose biblical interpretation could be, “God
sneezed the earth into creation.” I wonder who said "God bless you"
afterwards?
Activists in Italy recently requested that there be a law
requiring citizens to say, "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The
activists believe that this "prevents demons from flying into the mouth of
the person who sneezes, making them sick."
In the Quran there are several passages that encourage
blessing the sneezer. One quote: "Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven
things….He ordered us to follow the funeral procession, to visit the sick, to
accept invitation, to help the oppressed, to fulfill the oaths, to return the
greeting and to reply to the sneezer saying ‘May Allah be merciful on you.’”
Provided the sneezer says, upon his or her sneeze "All the praises are for
Allah."
If you’re an atheist you could say, “May humanity bring
benefits to you.”
So how do people keep
from sneezing, and according to folk lore, risk losing their souls?
The number one answer from independent research is putting
the finger under the nose and pushing up. My research showed that 48 percent
say they either put their finger under their nose or pinch their nose. Another
20 percent use allergy medication, and 32 percent use an assortment of
accessories from the practical and polite handkerchiefs to their hands (gross),
shirtsleeves and collars (also gross) to repeating a mantra such as saying
“watermelon” three times and circling the tip of the tongue on the roof of the
mouth. Others do the opposite of practical—they look at sunlight, which
actually makes you sneeze. Maybe they just want to get it out.
Should you try to hold
back a sneeze?
Nope. That can cause pressure and lightheadedness. There are
reported cases of people suffering a stroke from the pressure. Doctors state
that stifling the sneeze makes you squeeze the blood vessels reducing your
circulation. That’s definitely not good for your body. Just let Benadryl put
the squeeze on a sneeze.
How fast is a sneeze?
Most of the research says that sneezing expels air from your
nose at approximately 100 mph. (That’s 320 km/h with the average force of a
sneeze at 167 km/h.) It’s so powerful because it is a reflex response that
involves the mucus muscles of the face, throat, and chest. One sneeze can
propel 100,000 bacteria into the air. And the spray itself can travel as far as
any wind current can take it, which may be hundreds of miles.
What do people use
when they sneeze?
When asked if they use anything when they sneeze, 60 percent
of people said they use a tissue or a hand (their own, we hope). Kind of makes you wonder what the other 40
percent are doing. Where is all that sneeze spray going? Maybe I should start
passing out Benadryl.
Are there any other superstitions
about sneezing?
Some believe that a sneeze means that company is coming
(perhaps a good reason to take Benadryl) or that you will have good or bad luck
based on the number of sneezes or the time of the day or day of the week.
Number of sneezes: once a wish,
twice a kiss, three times something better.
Days of the week:
Sneeze on a
Tuesday – kiss a stranger
Sneeze on a
Wednesday – sneeze for a letter
Sneeze on a
Thursday – something better
Sneeze on a Friday
– sneeze for sorrow
Sneeze on a Saturday
– see your sweetheart tomorrow
Sneeze on a Sunday
– you safety seek:
The devil will
have you the whole of the week.
What does folklore say
it means when your cat sneezes?
That it is going to rain.
What animal sneezes
the most?
Iguanas sneeze more often and more productively than any
other animal. Sneezing is how they rid their bodies of certain salts that are
the normal byproduct of their digestive process. And since the subject of
iguanas comes up in so many conversations, you will sound quite impressive when
sharing this tidbit of information on sneezing!
How is sneezing
related to the invention of movies?
In 1888 Thomas Edison was looking at a sequence of pictures
of someone sneezing, and he realized that if you viewed them in a sequence very
quickly that you might be able to make into a movie. (See
www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr004p.html for more
information.)
What is the world
sneezing record?
The Guinness world record for having the longest sneezing
fit on record is 977 days with an estimated 1 million times the first
year. I’ll bet that person didn’t get
asked to many parties!
What does your sneeze
style say about your personality?
I have done survey research on 547 people, as well as three
months of observational research on the activity. As part of that research I
correlated the DiSC (yes little “i”) personality standard (a well-researched
personality test) with people’s sneezing behaviors and actions. You may not at
"first sneeze" think that your sneeze says something about the type
of person you are. You may say, "Hey, it is just a spontaneous
thing." In fact 49 percent of those asked said their sneeze is
spontaneous.
However, although the sneeze is a reflective action, it is
similar to other seemingly simple body language behaviors from yawning and
coughing to chewing. You will have idiosyncratic cues that accompany the
behavior that say things about you. Your nose knows you, and most of us have a
sneeze style that we stick with throughout our lives that matches our
personality.
Of course, our desire to be polite in public can make us
sneeze differently. About half (45
percent) of those surveyed say they have a public sneeze that differs from
their private sneeze. The research shows the private sneeze as being reflective
of their true personality. What is our biggest concern that causes us to change
our sneeze like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde? Well, when asked what best describes
what is going through your mind when you sneeze, 47 percent, regardless of
personality, responded with “I hope I don't bother anyone.” So we may stifle
our true personality sneeze in our concern for others.
Of the people who say they change their nose blowing or
sneezing style in a public place, research finds 80 percent say they do this by
blowing or sneezing more quietly or discretely.
Now let’s look at the sneeze styles as defined by my
research. Try to determine where you fit based on how you think you sneeze. If
you are not sure how you sneeze and what your behavior might be, just ask a
friend to monitor your sneezing. Seriously, just ask a friend to give you some
feedback. You probably can’t sneeze on cue, so you will both have to be
patient.
SNEEZE STYLES
As defined by Patti A.
Wood
www.pattiwood.net
The majority of
people surveyed had a sneeze that matched their personality.
The NICE (or Sensitive) Sneezer – You are warm and friendly
and like a relaxed pace. The most important thing in your life is your
relationships with others. You will work to avoid conflict and get along, even
not saying anything and making personal sacrifices to do so. You are loyal,
calm, and dependable. People say you are a good
listener, though sometimes you feel interrupted. You are helpful, supportive
and nurturing of others. You tend to have a single achoo,
and you are more likely to turn away when you sneeze than other types. (S)
The BE RIGHT Sneezer – You are careful, and accurate
. A
deep thinker you always consider things before you speak.
You are detailed and precise and catch
mistakes that others miss. You have great insights and opinions, but you don’t
always get a chance to express them. You like to read books that make you
think. You like to work by yourself and relax at home, because you enjoy
solitude. You take your time, play by the rules and wish others would do the
same. You are more likely to cover your mouth when you
sneeze than other types. (R)
The GET IT DONE Sneezer – You are fast, decisive and to the
point. You wish others could be the same. You’re efficient and uncomplicated.
You do not have to rely on others. You are a leader. You are decisive, forceful
and commanding and work to get things quickly accomplished. You seek physical
exertion. You do not like to be used unfairly by others.
You will hold in your sneeze if you can and are more likely to have a big loud
sneeze than other types. (D)
The ENTHUSIASTIC Sneezer – You are a charismatic leader
and influencer. You are imaginative and have great "outside of the
box" ideas. You are intuitive and can inspire and motivate others. You
value your relationships and hold them dear. You welcome new people and new
opportunities. You are optimistic and spontaneous. You are open and people know
what you are feeling. You are articulate and enjoy a good conversation whether
it is on the phone, over dinner or out socializing.
You are more likely to have sneezes that people notice - big or multiple. (E)
Findings:
- 76
percent of big sneezers chose D or E personality
- The
majority of multiple sneezers (46 percent) are E personalities
- 47
percent of “cover it up” sneezers are R personalities
- 70
percent of “hold it in” sneezers are D or S personalities
Gender differences:
- 32 %
of women hold in their sneeze. (Women have a lot of practice at
withholding.)
- 26 %
of women are multiple sneezers. (I could say something here, but I won't.)
- Surprise,
Surprise! The majority of men (46 percent) say they are “big” sneezers.
(You know men are always exaggerating.) And 27 percent say they are
multiple sneezers (Perhaps wishful thinking.)
During the research people added the following additional
styles. Do you have any others?
Big Bad Wolf Sneeze - the person huffs and puffs before
sneezing as if they could blow the whole house down.
The Tease - This is the person who captures our attention
and may rivet an entire room to freeze in place as they listen to the sneezer
go “aahhh ahhhh” with only a tiny little anticlimactic “achoo” to end it.
Spray Gun - This sneezer makes you wish you were carrying an
umbrella and wearing a raincoat.
Freeze tag - The sneezer’s whole face and body freeze
perhaps for several seconds as the sneeze builds up internally and then
suddenly explodes out, animating the entire body.
Hand as Handkerchief - This sneezer lets it go right into
their hand. This is really annoying if they then offer their hand in a
handshake. If you want to avoid the germy hand, try holding a drink or
appetizer or paperwork in your right hand.
The How High Can You Count? Sneeze - The sneezer that keeps
sneezing one right after the other till you begin to look for the count from
Sesame Street to start counting with you.
The Cartoon Sneeze – This sounds like a little kid sneezing,
also known as the dainty sneeze.
The Coughing Sneeze – This is a series of cough-like
sounding sneezes close together without a breath.
The Shout It Out Sneeze - This manly man sneeze is so loud
it can be heard in the next state.
Other words people used to describe their sneezes: enthusiastic,
complete, tickle, obnoxious, powerful, squeaky and roller coaster.
Famous Character Sneezers
Following is a description of sneezes by your favorite
television, radio and movie characters. (Note: the sneezes reflect the
personality of the character and not necessarily the actor portraying the
character.)
Again, the categories are:
E- for Enthusiastic
S- for Sensitive (or Nice)
D-for Get it Done
R-for Get it Right
Television:
CBS
Ray Romano (Everybody Loves
Raymond) – is an E.
Doris Roberts (Everybody
Loves Raymond) – is a D.
Roma Downey (Touched By An
Angel) – is definitely an S.
Dave Letterman (an enigma) –
I think he is actually a D because the
Get it Right
personalities are known for their cynicism.
Jerry Stiller (the
father-in-law from "King of Queens") – He craves attention like an enthusiastic sneezer, but he has no regard
for other people and is very blunt so he
really is a D.
NBC
Noah Wiley (ER) –
Definitely an S
Courtney Cox as Monica from
"Friends” - She is interesting because she is an R or “get it right,” but
because none of the other cast are D’s or “get it dones” she takes on that role
as well.
Kelsy Grammer as Fraiser
from "Fraiser” – He shows the work split. He thinks he’s an S all the
time, but he really is an R. His brother is a strong R as well.
Sean Hayes as Jack from
“Will & Grace” - Definitely E!!!!! He would sneeze for money. In fact, he
would write a show about it called “Just Jack's Sneeze.”
ABC:
Drew Carrey (The Drew
Carrey Show) – Bizarre mixture. He is a get it right
at work- nobody else in his
life is an R. And his character always pays a price.
Mimi from "The Drew
Carrey Show" – E!!!! She would have a special outfit
and make up for sneezing.
Simon Cowell (American
Idol)—D. He actually pitched the show to Betersmelm. He’s beyond blunt.
Paula Abdul (American Idol)
- Truly an S
UPN
Sarah-Michelle Gellar as
Buffy from "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" - Her
character is complex as
well. When in her slayer mode, she is a D, but when she
stops kicking butt she
becomes an S.
WB
Superman- Clark is an S and
Superman is a D
Lex Luther from Smallville
- He is a sly R
Film/Radio Personalities
Howard Stern E!!!! - He
would sneeze big and grossssssss
Jim Carrey - E
Julia Roberts - S
Britney Spears - Her
persona is an E. She definitely craves attention. I've read her body language
for the media and have no idea who she really is. Not sure she knows either.
So, there you have it. My takes on sneezing styles for
you, for actors playing fictional characters and for the people you watch and
listen to in real life.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at
www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at
www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at
http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
