Sneezing is a natural occurrence that allows the body to rid your nasal passage of irritants. It can be triggered by allergens, viruses among others and happens voluntarily, according to MedicalNewsToday. However, sometimes when you have the urge to sneeze, you are unable to. This can be uncomfortable, but there are tricks you can use to have a good sneeze.
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Keep your eyes on a bright light
Research shows that a third of the population can bring themselves to sneeze just by looking at a bright light. Known as photic sneezing, this phenomenon is hereditary, so if one of your parents has this ability, there’s a 50% chance you might have it too. However, experts at MedicalNewsToday warn against looking directly at the sun as that might hurt your eyes.
Play with a nostril hair
When a sneeze fails to come out, you could try plucking out a single hair in your nose. This is believed to stimulate the nerve that causes a sneeze. This stimulation may be the reason why some people sneeze after having a PCR test. However, Nadine M. Aktan, PhD, the assistant dean of advanced practice at the Rutgers School of Nursing told Women’s Health:
Inserting anything too far up into the nose is not recommended.
Sniffing strong spices/scents
Spices like pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne are common irritants that can trigger a sneeze by irritating the nasal nerve endings. According to MedicalNewsToday:
Try opening a jar of spices and taking a gentle sniff, or grind up some whole peppercorns to induce a sneeze. Cooking spicy food or inhaling some capsaicin extract from a bottle may also work.
If you decide to use this approach, be careful not to inhale the spice as that could burn and cause more reactions other than sneezing.
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