FitSugar

Nothing to Sneeze At

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:30:20 -0700

Runny noses abound these days, and sneezes often accompany these dripping sniffers. Here are five things I felt compelled to share with you about the simple act of the sneeze.

A sneeze is your body forcefully expelling irritants and bacteria. Don't suppress your sneezes; let your body do its thing.
Sneeze into the crook of your elbow if you find yourself without a tissue. Remember this catchy phrase: "Sneeze into your sleeve."
A conservative estimate on the speed of a sneeze is 100 miles per hour.
A sneeze can send water droplets up to three feet.
Your heart does not stop when you sneeze, but the change of pressure in your chest can alter the rhythm of your heartbeat, making it feel like it's skipped a beat.
About one in four people experience a photic sneezing reflex, meaning bright light induces a sneeze. The sensation is also known as sun sneezing.

Achoo! I Love You!

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:00:53 -0800

Mixed signals are often the fodder for romantic comedies, but could sneezing be a mixed signal in itself? According to a rare but documented phenomenon, sneezing fits can overlap with sexual arousal.

According to the BBC, a couple of doctors in the UK were inspired to research this issue after reading about a middle aged man who experienced uncontrollable bouts of sneezing fits when he thought about sex. The study isn't terribly scientific, since chat rooms were the major source of data, but it's still an interesting curiosity. The physicians believe this phenomenon is due to a mixup in brain circuitry, where signals within the nervous system are crossed, triggering sneezes. Considering that the nose contains erectile tissue and, like genitals, may become engorged during sexual arousal, it is kind of surprising that sneezing and sex don't overlap more.

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Power Coughing and Speedy Sneezes

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

There are many runny noses in my house these days. I can't count the number of times I tell my girls to cough into their elbows over the course of one day. It is important to contain those germs and here's why:

The water droplets from a cough or sneeze can travel up to three feet. Sitting across the table from a coughing preschooler can be dangerous.

Another cold fact to remember in these early days of the cold and flu season is that a cold virus can live on an inanimate object for up to three days. If someone has the sniffles in your house, it is a good idea to clean your TV remote as well as door handles.

Don't underestimate the power of a sneeze. A conservative estimate of the speed of a sneeze is 100 miles per hour. My new mommy mantra, "Cough into your elbow, sneeze into your sleeve," might just keep some germs from traveling so far and so fast.

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How Much Do You Know About Sneezing?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Unfortunately with the green trees and pretty flowers, allergy season also brings sneezes. Lots and lots of sneezes. This morning I fell prey to a sneezing fit, so I decided to do a little research on what makes this unavoidable thing happen and why. Take this little quiz to see how much you know.

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The Speed of a Sneeze

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

Sniffles, coughs and sneezes are becoming a part of daily life as cold and flu season approaches. Unfortunately, coughing and sneezing are both excellent ways of spreading germs and bacteria.

Do you know how powerful a sneeze is?

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Take the quiz

What's the Deal With: Sun Sneezes

FitSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When I was younger, I had a friend who thought she was allergic to the sun because every time she stepped outside she sneezed. In fact, she taught me the trick of looking toward the sun, but never directly at it, to bring on a shy sneeze.

If you are not a sun sneezer, you might be surprised to know that this phenomenon has been recognized for over 40 years by the medical community, and they even gave it a scientific sounding name: photic sneezing reflex.

Sun sneezers are in the minority since the reflex only occurs in one out of four people. Studies suggest that it might be a dominant trait we inherit from our parents. It is believed that crossed neural pathways between the eyes and the nose, mouth, and chest cause sun sneezing. Bright light should make the pupils constrict, but for the photic sensitive, it does so much more! Tell me, are you a sun sneezer?

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The Mysterious Sun Sneeze

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0700

When I was a kid, I had a friend who thought she was allergic to the sun because every time she stepped outside she sneezed. In fact, she taught me the trick of looking toward the sun (but never directly at it) or into a bright light to bring on a shy sneeze.

If you are not a sun sneezer, you might be surprised to know that this phenomenon has been recognized for over 40 years by the medical community, and they even gave it a scientific sounding name: photic sneezing reflex.

Sun sneezers are in the minority since the reflex only occurs in one out of four people. Studies suggest that it might be a dominant trait we inherit from out parents. It is believed that crossed neural pathways between the eyes and the nose, mouth, and chest cause sun sneezing. Bright light should make the pupils constrict, but for the photic sensitive, it does so much more! Achooo!

So are you a sun sneezer? Let me know in the comments section below.

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How Often Do You Sneeze?

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Since I have allergies to pets, dust, and pollen, I find myself sneezing pretty much everyday. Now that Spring weather is on its way, I know I'm in for a lot of sneezing. What about you?

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Sneezing

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:04:32 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Considerations
Common Causes
Home Care
Call your health care provider if
What to expect at your health care provider's office
References

Illustrations

Throat anatomy

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

A sneeze is a sudden, forceful, involuntary burst of air through the nose and mouth.

Alternative Names

Sternutation

Considerations

Sneezing is caused by irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose or throat. It can be very bothersome, but is generally not a sign of a serious problem.

Common Causes

Allergy to pollen, mold, dander, dust (hay fever)
Corticosteroid inhalation (from certain nose sprays)
Drug withdrawal
Nasal irritants such as dust and powders
Virus infections (common cold, upper respiratory tract infections, the flu)

Home Care

Avoiding exposure to the offending allergen is the best way to control sneezing caused by allergic diseases.

Tips to reduce your exposure:

Remove pets from the home to eliminate animal dander
Change furnace filters
Use air filtration devices to reduce pollen in the air
Travel to areas with low pollen counts

In some cases, moving out of a residence with a mold spore problem may be necessary.

For sneezing not caused by an allergy, the problem will disappear when the underlying disorder is cured or treated.

Call your health care provider if

Call your provider if sneezing adversely affects your life and home remedies do not work.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your medical provider will obtain a medical history. You may be asked:

During what time of year is sneezing the worst?
When did the sneezing begin?
How long do sneezing episodes last?
Do you have a history of allergies?
Have you been outdoors more than usual?
What have you done to try to relieve the sneezing?
How well has it worked?
What other symptoms are also present?

A physical examination will also be performed. The doctor will examine your the upper respiratory tract. In some cases, allergy testing may be needed to provide an accurate diagnosis.

Antihistamines are the first line of therapy for sneezing caused by allergies. Nasal steroid sprays may be helpful in more chronic conditions.

Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy or hyposensitization, may be considered for seasonal or year round symptoms that cannot be managed with other drugs because of their side effects.

References

Adkinson NF Jr. Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2003.

Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007.

Review Date: 7/17/2007

Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Soap vs. Hand Sanitizer

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:50:13 -0700

It's a germy world out there, and keeping those germs off your hands is considered the best way to fight catching a cold or flu this season. We recently learned that washing your hands with cold water is just as effective as hot. We also know that anti-bacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soaps. But what about hand sanitizers? Here's a quick sketch of how soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer compare.

Hand washing is recommended by the CDC over hand sanitizer, but if no sink is available hand sanitizer is considered second best. When hand washing, it is recommended that you work the soap into a full lather and wash for 20 seconds, which can seem like an awfully long time to scrub at the sink - many people don't wash for the recommended time. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills most most types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a few seconds, with the recommended rubbing time being 15 seconds. In terms of time, hand sanitizer kills more bacteria in less time.

To see how soap trumps sanitizer, read more.

But here's the rub (pun intended): although hand sanitizers have been shown to reduce gastrointestinal illnesses when used in households and reduce student absences when used in school, they do not kill norovirus, which can cause acute gastroenteritis, or E. coli. Nor does hand sanitizer remove feces, blood, or dirt. This means old-fashioned hand washing is best in restrooms and kitchens, but after a sneeze, a quick wipe-down with hand sanitizer will work.

Look for hand sanitizer with 60 percent ethanol (aka ethyl alcohol) like Purell or Web MD-recommended EO Lavender Hand Sanitizer. Do you keep hand sanitizer in your purse?