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Thread: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

  1. #1
    Yekhefah
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    Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    You know those times when you really need to sneeze, but no sneeze is forthcoming? My ex taught me a really great trick and it's never failed me. When you feel a sneeze getting stuck, look directly at the brightest light you can see (obviously do not stare into the sun though). You will sneeze in a second or two.

    I have no idea why this works. It doesn't always involve you raising your head; it works if the brightest light is a candle on the coffee table or a bright spot on the floor. In a dim room, even looking at a white piece of paper will do it. I've been doing this for close to ten years, ever since my ex taught me, and it's always worked. How?

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    Yep looking into direct sunlight always makes me sneeze. No idea why tho.

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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    ^ me too.

  4. #4
    miss marina
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    i always do this. always works! dont know why..OT but yay 1,000 posts!

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    Answer: If you sneeze when looking at a light, you are not alone! As many as one out of every three people seem to have this interesting phenomenon, called photic sneeze, in which bright light triggers a sneeze. Sir Francis Bacon even wrote about it, almost 400 years ago, "Looking against the Sunne, doth induce Sneezing." (Sylva Sylvarum)

    We generally sneeze to get rid of something that is irritating the inside of our nose, such as dust, pollen, or viruses. The body uses lots of nerves and muscles to coordinate this protective reflex. Although no one knows exactly why photic sneezes happen, there are some theories. A popular one is that a sudden flash of bright light causes the nerve signal leaving the eye (along the optic nerve) to trigger a nearby nerve (trigeminal) that goes to the nose, thereby causing a sneeze. Another theory suggests that bright light causes the eye to make more tears, which drip into the nose and trigger a sneeze.

    Photic sneezing does tend to run in families and scientists may find a photic sneezing gene one day. Perhaps some researchers even are looking for a way to stop photic sneezes from happening. Although you may find it helpful to glance at a bright light when you feel like you have to sneeze but can't, did you know that this reflex sometimes can be dangerous? For example, some people sneeze quite forcefully, which might cause problems if it happens when they are driving a car and exit a dark tunnel into bright sunlight, or are flying a fighter jet and have to turn suddenly into the sun. Sunglasses may help to prevent photic sneezes for some people.

    Whatever the cause, remember that sneezing can spread germs, so cover your mouth and nose (with a disposable tissue or your upper arm) when you sneeze!
    http://askascientist.binghamton.edu/...3dec04ask.html


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    God/dess RoseWhite's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    ^^^ I've got this too! I remember reading about this in Diane Ackerman's "A Natural History of the Senses". I like the term "photic sneezes", and Ackerman found a term for the hereditary condition that causes this photic sneezing ( I am not making this up): "Autosomal-dominant Compelling Helio Opthalmalic Outburst". Nice acronym, eh?
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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    Hmmm...this never works for me!!!

    But, slowly breathing deeply in through my nose always triggers that sneeze that just waiting there...


  8. #8
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    You look at a bright light. Tearing is produced to help protect the eye. Tears run from the lacrimal sac to the nasolacrimal duct into the sinus.

    Some irritation, be it dust or inflammation or phlegm, resides in the sinus cavity and generates a reflexive forceful respiratory expulsion (a sneeze). Sometimes the irritation isn't quite enough to produce the sneeze.

    So then you look at the light, tears are produced and run to the sinuses, and exacerbating the irritation enough to trigger the sneeze reflex.

    At least, that's my theory.
    Last edited by Jay Zeno; 06-07-2007 at 09:02 AM. Reason: typo

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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    Well, a mini threadjack, I have a trick similiar. If you have the hiccups, and a glass of water sitting on the table in front of you, take a drink, set it down, rotate it 180 degrees, take another drink, and set it down again. Always workds. Weird.

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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    My ex taught me this too

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    Featured Member Paintbaby's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    That's so funny! I use the bright light trick to STOP a sneeze!

  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    Interesting! Thanks for the explanation, Morri!

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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    The light thing never works for me. Hmm. But drinking a glass of water with my head tilted back, whilst holding my nose plugged-- THAT gets rid of my hiccups every time.

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    God/dess RoseWhite's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    I think it simply boils down to: If you have the genetic trait named (if glibly) ACHOO, the light trick will work. But if you don't have that genetic trait, it just won't.

    Hiccup tricks, though, sometimes a good "BOO" if I'm not expecting it will take care of it. (And make me want to throttle whoever did it, even though I know they're just helping. )
    "Before I conceived you, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would die for you. This is the miracle of life." -- Maureen Hawkins

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    NOTHING makes my hiccups go away... but I found a FABULOUS way to make someone else's go away.

    "If you hiccup again I'll give you a dollar!"
    "What?"
    "Like I said... hiccup one more time and I'll give you a dollar."
    "....."
    "....."
    ".....damn!"


    I've never once given a dollar.


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    Veteran Member Cyndi08's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    To get rid of hiccups... I have coached drunk people and it always works! j

    Hold your breath and swallow (don't let the air out yet), count to three, swallow again (still holding), count to three ,swallow one more time, then hold for another three seconds... release and take shallow breaths (not deep ones) for the next minute or so. Voila! Has worked every time.

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    Featured Member blondi553's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    i look at a bright light to STOP a sneeze too....i guess im back asswards lol

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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    I do the light trick to force sneeze also. But when I asked someone about it, the answer I got was...

    "Light makes your brain think 'heat' which dialtes your blood vessels, which causes your nose hairs and other sensory stuff (yes, that was the techincal term) to rub eachother and then you sneeze"

    I think I liked the part were my sensory stuff rubbed eachother and just stuck with that answer!




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    Veteran Member Aine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    I'm one of the backasswards ones too, if I look at a bright light it will stop me from sneezing...lol.

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    Veteran Member pennygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sneeze Trick - How does this work?

    so someone told me this long ago and in a strange way it makes sense
    why the bright light makes you sneeze is..
    when you are looking at something bright you can actually hurt your eyes so your body does the one thing that makes you blink.. sneeze
    thus protects your eyes
    the sneeze forces you to blink .. try sneezing with your eyes open .. i can't

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