First, let’s figure out the defense reaction’s mechanism. Sneezing happens when the nasal mucosa is irritated by dust, germs, and other dust particles that get there when you breathe. 

The body, protecting itself from foreign bodies, makes a powerful and sharp exhalation – a puff, thus getting rid of them. The speed can reach 170 km/h, the number of expelled particles is 100 thousand, and the “flight radius” is 9 meters. Therefore, it is almost impossible to stop the process of sneezing, as it is an unconditioned reflex we acquire from birth.

Many people sneeze from sunlight. But the question immediately arises: how can light irritate the nasal membrane? The answer is simple: when bright light enters a person’s eyes, the production of lacrimal glands increases, which, in turn, enter the nasopharynx, irritating it. And you know the rest – the body gets rid of excess fluid by sneezing.

There is a so-called “sneezing center” in our brains. It is fully responsible for this reflex, sending commands to some muscles of the abdomen, chest, and diaphragm, which must contract to make a sneeze. Therefore, a person with damage to this center loses the ability to sneeze. 

Sneezing is an essential part of the immune system that helps us eliminate harmful bacteria, dust, and other foreign substances that can somehow harm our body’s health.