We sneeze with our eyes closed by reflex to protect them from nasal secretions that may be expelled during the sneeze.
When we sneeze, our eyes close without us even thinking about it. This reflex is there for a good reason: to protect our eyes. When we sneeze, we quickly expel air, droplets, and potentially microbes from our respiratory tract. This violent expulsion creates a kind of automatic reaction in our eyelids, which close immediately as a precaution. Our eyes thus avoid directly receiving what we expel when sneezing, like a kind of safety reaction. This small, instantaneous, and unconscious reflex is therefore primarily there to prevent irritation or contamination of our sensitive eyes.
When you sneeze, a nerve message is sent to the brain via the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve that covers a large part of the face. At that moment, your brain automatically triggers a reflex response, activating both your respiratory muscles to expel air at high speed and your eyelid muscles to close your eyes. This coordination is managed by specific areas of the brainstem, a central region that ensures vital automatic actions, without you having to think about it or even realize it. This neurological synchronization mechanism ensures that your eyes remain closed during a sneeze, even though it is difficult, if not impossible, to go against this reflex.
When we sneeze, thousands of tiny droplets loaded with microbes and other particles violently exit through the nose and mouth. This reflex of closing the eyes serves to protect the sensitive surface of the eyes from these potentially contaminating projections. The eye is an easy entry point for viruses and bacteria, with its delicate and moist mucous membranes being particularly vulnerable. Thus, by instinctively closing the eyelids, the body prevents these micro-organisms from landing directly on the surface of the eye, thereby reducing the risk of infection or irritation.
During a sneeze, several facial muscles automatically contract, including the orbicularis muscle, which is responsible for closing the eyelids. This muscle forms a circle around your eye, like an elastic band, and tightens reflexively as soon as you sneeze. Other facial muscles also contribute to the reflex movement, such as those in the forehead and cheeks, to create an effective and complete closure, preventing any external particles from reaching your eyes at the moment you forcefully exhale through your nose and mouth. It's a kind of automatic muscle combination that your body activates without even asking for your opinion.
This automatic reflex dates back very far in our history: instinctively closing our eyes during a sneeze was once helpful to protect the eye. At a time when the environment was filled with dust, debris, and microbes, immediately closing the eyes prevented all that dirt from being sent into them during a sudden sneeze. This highly effective protective reflex has gradually become ingrained in our genetic heritage, passed down from generation to generation, without much modification since then. Not exactly very glamorous, but quite clever on the part of our ancestors, after all.
The average speed of a sneeze reaches about 160 km/h, which explains why covering your mouth and nose when sneezing is recommended to limit the spread of germs.
A sneeze involves many facial muscles that contract simultaneously, which explains why it is almost impossible to keep a relaxed face during a sneeze.
Sneezing is triggered by the stimulation of the nerves in the nose, but surprisingly, sudden exposure to bright light can also cause a reaction in some people known as 'photic sneezing.'
In some people, staring at a bright light triggers an immediate sneezing reflex: this phenomenon is known as the ACHOO syndrome (Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst).
This is a phenomenon called the photic sneeze reflex. About 18 to 35% of people have this genetic reflex where a bright light involuntarily triggers the urge to sneeze.
Regularly holding back a sneeze can increase nasal and internal pressure, sometimes leading to discomfort such as ear pain, sinus issues, or, in rare cases, minor hearing damage. Therefore, it is generally better to avoid this practice.
Yes, it is recommended not to completely block the nostrils, but rather to apply slight pressure at the base of the nose or to exert a gentle horizontal pressure above the lips. This method helps to reduce the force of a sneeze without posing a health risk.
No, generally we rarely sneeze during deep sleep because the body reduces its responsiveness to certain stimuli. However, it is possible to be briefly awakened by a sneeze during the stages of light sleep.
Repeated sneezing occurs when the irritation or stimulation of the nose has not been fully resolved with the first sneeze. The body continues to sneeze until the nasal passages are cleared.
In general, trying to sneeze with your eyes open does not cause serious damage, but it remains extremely difficult because the automatic reflex immediately closes the eyelids to protect the eyes from any projection.
No one has answered this quiz yet, be the first!' :-)
Question 1/5
