Is It Possible To Sneeze With Your Eyes Open?
You've probably heard the rumor that you can't sneeze with your eyes open because your eyes will pop out if you do. Is it impossible to sneeze with your eyes open? Let's find out in today's blog.
You've probably noticed that whenever you sneeze, your eyes automatically close right before you sneeze; most of us learn this eye-popping rumor, and honestly, and luckily it's a myth, your eyes will definitely not pop out. Fear not, fellow sneezers! The act of sneezing — also known as sternutation — will not cause your eyes to pop out, even if you do sneeze with your eyes open. If you sneeze, your eyes close just before a sneeze as an involuntary reflex; the brain sends a signal to the eye muscles telling them to close without you ever having to think about it. But why do our eyes automatically close? Experts can't say for sure, but many believe it could be a reflex that keeps all the icky stuff we sneeze out. Sneezing is just a way for your body to get rid of something that might be inflaming the inside of your nostrils, like dust, pollen, pepper, or other irritants in the air. Sneezing might seem like a basic reflex, but much goes into a single sniffle. It's not just your nose and eye muscles in your abs, chest, and throat that are all braced to help eject those unwanted particles from your nose with surprising strength and speed.
And, yes, it is possible to sneeze with your eyes open. It's tough, and you must keep your eyes open. Some people who try to sneeze with their eyes open can only accomplish this feat if they hold their eyelids open!
In addition to your brain, other body parts, including your abdominal muscles, chest muscles, diaphragm, and throat muscles, combine to expel air quickly out of your nose to clear the unwanted particles. Scientists estimate the material leaving your nose during a sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour!
Why do your eyes close up while sneezing?
No one knows why the eyes automatically snap shut during a sneeze. Scientists believe that it happens to protect the eyes from the contaminants released. It could also be due to the involuntary muscle contractions of the face, as sneezing incorporates many muscles, including the ones surrounding the eyes. So when they contract, the eyelids shut down as well. But there is no correlation between the eye muscles and the ones used during sneezing.
The fact that it's automatic is why most of us close our eyes during a sneeze, though there aren't necessarily any dangers in trying to keep them open. "It's not harmful, but again, [it] takes more effort to stay open than closed
Trying to hold in a sneeze, however, can be harmful. It may cause ear damage, vertigo, ruptured blood vessels, and diaphragm injuries. As you can probably feel in your body, a significant pressure buildup comes with a sneeze, and it needs to be let out.
To stop sneezing from hitting you regularly, take over-the-counter allergy medicine (if it's okay with your doctor), pick up an air care device, and consistently wash your body and clothes.
To help stop the spread of germs:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Throw used tissues in the trash
- If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands
References:
https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open
https://www.wellandgood.com/sneeze-with-eyes-open/
Blog Credits: Ashay Thakare (SY Mechanical, 112110134)
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