Light Helps us Sneeze

United States
January 20, 2011 4:12pm CST
I am wondering why when I want to sneeze and look at a source of brilliant light I can sneeze easily.Why is it so? My mom taught me this trick when I was a kid, it works but I want to know why.
1 person likes this
4 responses
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Your discussion triggered my curiosity. So I went to the net and searhed to fine that there is something called photic sneeze reflex. Which is genetic quirk that is still unexplained by science, even though it has intrigued some of history's greatest minds. Here is a nice article that will explain further: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=looking-at-the-sun-can-trigger-a-sneeze I am so fascinated by it as it truly is a mystery.
magtibaygom
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
20 Jan 11
It is not common to everyone to sneeze in reaction to light. May be it's a kind of disorder. Even in extreme bright light, I do not reaction that way to light. It is only by physical stimulation that I sneeze.
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Glad to read it does not affect you as it does me, I find it annoying when it does so when the reading the article for me put a bit of perspective for me.
angelic123
@angelic123 (1108)
• United States
21 Jan 11
wow, hanks for finding an article for me.
mytravelaroundglobe
@sanjay91422 (2725)
• India
21 Jan 11
Hi, I think the reason is that you get your eyes blind when you look at the a light source and that can also make you a little unconscious about the other things around you and that is why you sneeze without having any other thing in your mind. I think it is a trick which is played by your mind on you that there is no one around you watching and you sneeze without any hesitation. Thanks, -Sanjay
angelic123
@angelic123 (1108)
• United States
21 Jan 11
this is probable, and based from what I read,it may also be a sensitivity to light. Thanks.Sometimes I feel conscious too whenever I sneeze especially at the church, because I think I am interrupting the solemnity of the place.
mytravelaroundglobe
@sanjay91422 (2725)
• India
22 Jan 11
Yeah it is not good to sneeze in religious places. If it is an emergency then no one can stop it, but yeah one should try to control that.
petersum
@petersum (4522)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Me too! I think it has something to do with the way you have to half close your eyes in order to shade your eyes. It is exactly the same way when you sneeze. The body is tricked into believing that a sneeze is coming - and it does! I sneeze multiple times in bright sunshine but never more than twice on other occasions. The body has these secret programs!
angelic123
@angelic123 (1108)
• United States
20 Jan 11
me too, even in fluorescent light, I sneeze many times too. Since I have colds,I find it relieving every time I sneeze.
smilywomen
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
20 Nov 12
Ohhh God I heard first time light helps to control the sneezing. What is you are saying please elaborate it.