Why do we sneeze?

Aaa… aaa… CHOO! A sneeze can pop out of you all of a sudden, even when you are in the middle of something. But why does your nose do that?

A tickle in your nose

The inside of your nose is soft and ticklish. When something it does not like sneaks in — like dust, a sprinkle of pepper, or tiny germs — special sensors notice the bother straight away.

They send a quick message to your brain: “Something is in here! Let’s blow it out!”

A big puff of air

Your brain answers with a plan. You take a deep breath, your chest squeezes, and then — CHOO! — a big sudden puff of air rushes out through your nose and mouth.

That blast carries the dust and germs away with it, so they cannot bother you anymore. A sneeze is your body’s way of giving your nose a quick, powerful clean.

Surprisingly speedy

A sneeze is much faster than it feels. The air whooshes out very fast — faster than a car drives on the road! That speedy puff is great at clearing the way.

So next time you sneeze, remember: your nose just did a tidy-up. Don’t forget to cover it with your elbow!

Wonder fact: Looking at a bright light makes some people sneeze — about 1 in 3 noses are ticklish to sunshine!