How to Control a Sneeze

Sneezing is good. It's a reflex that is intended to rid your nasal passages of an irritant or infection. If you suppress a sneeze the irritants remain trapped in your nose. So go ahead and blow, and consider the following.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Facial Tissues

1. Get away from environmental irritants: If the pollen count is high, go inside, turn on the air conditioner and close the windows; if you're allergic to your neighbor's cat, avoid Fluffy.

2. Wash your hands once you've removed yourself from the source of your sneezes, blow your nose and try to breath slowly from your diaphragm.

3. Treat any infection or cold you may have. (See "How To Treat A Cold.")

4. Consider taking an antihistamine. These over-the-counter drugs will dry up your nose and reduce that tickling, itchy feeling.

5. Time your medication dose with your activities. If you're taking an antihistamine to counteract allergies to pollen, dose yourself at least an hour before you go outside.

6. Check your furnace filters. If you begin sneezing when you turn on your furnace, your filters may be dusty and spreading irritants into your house.

7. Evaluate your sneeze to determine its cause. (See "How To Diagnose a Sneeze.")

8. Get tested for allergies. If you sneeze a lot and don't know why, and you don't have an ongoing infection, see an allergy doctor for skin testing.

9. Stay out of bright light if sunshine makes you sneeze.

Tips & Warnings

• Sneezing can also be a symptom of pregnancy. Expectant mothers say they often start sneezing for no apparent reason. It's thought this is due to hormonal changes.
• Never stifle a sneeze. Blow forcefully into a handkerchief. Trying to suppress a sneeze can damage your ears and/or spray bacteria into your sinuses.

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[melaniebennett]

on 11/10/2009 Not sure about the symptom of pregnancy! If that was the case I am constantly pregnant :-0