A-A-A-CHOOO! Does someone you know sneeze so loudly that it sounds like a gunshot going off? In private, it can be jarring to hear…in public, well, let’s not get started. Bottom Line Personal asked Mas Takashima, MD, of Houston Methodist Hospital, to explain all about sneezes.
What is a sneeze?
Sneezing is an involuntary reflex to protect your airway passages. When particles and fumes, such as pollen, dust or smoke, irritate the inside of the nose, signals are sent to your brain via the trigeminal nerve, which provides sensation to the face. Your normal breathing pattern is suddenly interrupted…your chest expands…and your throat opens involuntarily as your lungs fill with air. Once enough pressure has built up, your diaphragm and abdominal muscles contract. The air is expelled at a speed of 35 miles per hour or more, making a turbulent whooshing sound as it pushes through your vocal cords—the sneeze.
Why do some sneezes sound so loud?
How loudly your sneeze is determined by the shape of your vocal cords and other soft tissue at the back of your throat, as well as your lung capacity and the size of your contracting upper-body muscles. Large, barrel-chested men are more likely to have window-rattling sneezes.
There is also a personality component to sneezing, similar to having a booming laugh. Some people just find sneezing with abandon a more cathartic way to satisfy their urge.
How can I sneeze more quietly?
There are ways to lower the volume of your sneezes…
Keep your mouth closed, and hold your tongue to the roof of your mouth
This directs the air pressure through your nose, rather than through your mouth. The sneeze will not sound as loud, but it is likely to be wetter and messier.
Limit the amount of air you inhale as the sneeze reflex builds
Although the urge to inhale is involuntary, you can consciously restrict the air you take into your lungs. The less air you have to expel, the less powerful and muted the sneeze should sound.
Don’t try to stifle the sneeze by squeezing your nostrils and mouth closed at the same time. This prevents your body from expelling irritants and bacteria, which could increase your chances of infection. Also, suppressing a sneeze can force air up your eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of your throat. That could cause a headache or even damage your eardrums.
Sneeze into a handkerchief or your elbow to mute the sound
Loud sneezes register about 90 decibels—that’s similar to the noise level of a lawn mower. Muffling the sneeze with a handkerchief or your elbow can reduce the level to 80 decibels or less.
