Why People Cough and Sneeze?
Coughing and sneezing are natural body functions with the express purpose of removing foreign or invading objects from the nasal and bronchial passages. Although a continuous cough can be a sign of a medical condition that requires treatment, under normal circumstances people cough an average of one or two times per hour to clear irritants.
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Features
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A cough is a reflex that occurs when a cough receptor is triggered by an irritant. The receptor sends a message to the brain signaling it to produce a cough. Prior to the actual cough, the person inhales a deep breath. The opening between the vocal chords shuts and air is trapped inside the lungs. The diaphragm, along with other muscles related to breathing, force the passageway open with a sharp outflow of air exits the body at 100 miles an hour.
A sneeze is triggered by a foreign body in the nasal passages. This may be in the form of viruses or as a simple spec of dust or pollen. When the object is detected by nerve endings, a message is sent to the brain to prepare to sneeze. The eyes are forced closed and muscles in the chest and abdomen are contracted to brace for the outburst. Air is forced through the nose at a speed of 100 miles per hour and may spew particles up to 30 feet.
Function
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Both sneezing and coughing clear breathing passages and expel irritants that may impede breathing and prevent the introduction of foreign objects into the body. As automatic reflexes, people have very little control over sneezing or coughing. Although anyone can produce a cough at will, some have the uncanny ability to produce sneezes at will, too.
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History
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Ancient people thought a sneeze was a sign of ensuing death and developed the practice of shouting "God help you," whenever a person sneezed. The Romans and Greeks thought a sneeze was sign of danger or sometimes as a way of foretelling the future. The direction you sneezed in was thought to indicate whether you were lucky or not. Someone who sneezed to the right was considered lucky and one who sneezed to the left unlucky.
During the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great ordered that in response to a sneeze observers were to offer a quick prayer in the form of "God Bless you," presumably to protect sneezers from the plague that inflicted Italy at the time.
Misconceptions
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It is a common misconception that holding in a sneeze can cause damage to the body. There is no evidence to support this. Occasionally holding in a sneeze will not cause damage to the body; however it may prevent the body from ridding itself of undesired foreign particles. The best practice is to sneeze naturally whenever the urge arises.
Prevention/Solution
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Avoiding obvious triggers like dust, animal dander and other allergens will greatly reduce sneezing and coughing. For ordinary coughs and sneezes, this is all that is needed. Medical treatment should be sought for excessive coughing and sneezing when there is no apparent reason.
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