Sneeze - Your Heart Stops!

"Every time you sneeze your heart stops a second."

A sneeze (or sternutation) is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, most commonly caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. Sneezing can further be triggered through sudden exposure to bright light, a particularly full stomach, as a result of unexpected, climatic variations in one's environment such as rapid changes in temperature and humidity levels.[citation needed] or as a symptom of viral infection.

The function of sneezing is the expulsion of mucus from the nose containing foreign particles or irritants as well as the cleansing of the entire sinus cavity during colds and other viral infections. During a sneeze the soft palate and uvula depress while the back of the tongue elevates to partially close off the passage to the mouth so that air ejected from the lungs may be expelled through the nose. Because the closing off of the mouth is partial, a considerable amount of this air is usually also expelled from the mouth.

Sneezing typically occurs when foreign particles or sufficient external stimulants pass through the nasal hairs to reach the nasal mucosa. This triggers the release of histamines, which irritate the nerve cells in the nose, resulting in signals being sent to the brain to initiate the sneeze through the trigeminal nerve network. The brain then relates this initial signal, activates the pharyngeal and tracheal muscles and creates a large opening of the nasal and oral cavities, resulting in a powerful release of air and bioparticles. The reason behind the particularly powerful nature of a sneeze is attributed to its involvement of not simply the nose and mouth, but numerous organs of the upper body – it is a reflectory response that involves the muscles of the face, throat, and chest.