By Beth W. Orenstein
Why do we sneeze? The long-standing answer has been that sneezing is a reflex. When irritants -- such as germs, dust, pollen, animal dander, or pollutants, just to name just a few -- infiltrate the nose lining, the brain sends out a signal to get rid of it. That triggers a deep breath, which gets held in the lungs. As a result, the chest muscles tighten and pressure builds. The tongue pushes against the roof of the mouth, forcing breath to come out fast through the nose -- Achoo!
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Fun Facts About Sneezing
"Why We Sneeze, and Other Fun Facts About Sneezing" originally appeared on Everyday Health
