MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Does Looking At The Sun Make Us Sneeze

Seasonal flu, cold, runny nose concept. Sneezing blonde young woman into tissue, outside sunny winter shot

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Does Looking At The Sun Make Us Sneeze

You’ve probably done this more than a few times when you feel a sneeze coming on. You immediately try to find the sun and look directly into it. But why does this help you sneeze?

Sneeze are usually caused by something that gets in your nose to trigger the reaction. Dust, pollen, pepper, etc… most of the time you sneeze when something physically touches your nostrils. The nerve that controls all the senses in your face/nose is located very close to the nerve that affects your eyes. Scientists have discovered that because the two nerves are so close together any bright light that gets in the eye can accidently trigger that nose nerve. This tricks your body into thinking something is touching you nose when it’s really just the bright light causing the sneeze.

Feel one coming on? Quick! Look at the sun!

 

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