FitSugar

The Speed of a Sneeze

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:00:00 PST

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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DrSugar Answers: Running and Getting Over a Cold

DrSugar — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:50:07 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! She's here to answer your health-related questions, and this week she's discussing training after a cold.

Dear DrSugar,
I'm training for my first half marathon. I'm getting rid of a lingering cold but I'm still trying to keep up with my training so I don't fall behind but it has been difficult. I can't run without my heart racing and having to stop after a minute or so even though before the cold I could run 4 miles without stopping. Should I just not run until I'm well or should I try and run/walk the distances that I'm supposed to be doing?
-Wanting to Run

The topic of whether or not one should exercise when sick is an important subject to discuss, as with Fall and Winter fast approaching, some of you may encounter this dilemma and wonder what you should do. To read more about exercising when sick, keep reading!

Achoo! 5 Things You May Not Know About Sneezing

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:00:45 PST

Everybody sneezes, but some people sneeze daily while other folks just don't. The sneeze is your body's way of expelling foreign element from your nose from irritants like dust and pollen, to bacteria and viruses. This blustery act is more complicated than all that. Check out these five surprising facts about this ordinary phenomenon.

Exercise makes people sneeze. When working hard and breathing heavy, your mouth and nose dry up. Your schnoz reacts by dripping, which makes you sneeze.
Sneezes break the speed limit. Traveling at 100 miles per hour, a single sneeze blows air and mucus out of your mouth and nose, sending out 100,000 germs into the air. That's good news for you, but bad news for those around you. Remember to sneeze into your elbow!
Your sneeze reflex sleeps with you. Yep, you don't have to worry about sneezing in your sleep, because your sneezing nerves take a snooze when you do.

Learn why both the sun and sex can bring on a sneeze when you

DrSugar: Can I Exercise With a Cold?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:00:50 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health related questions.

DrSugar,
I was wondering how to determine whether it is OK to work out if I have a cold. I have heard of the "neck up" rule but sometimes find that it's not easy to tell whether the cold is localized in my head or not. For example, I have a cough and head congestion now but am not sure if I have chest congestion or not. I hate to break up my routine but also do not want to make myself worse. Any suggestions? Thanks so much!
- Sniffles

This is a great question I received this week from one of DrSugar’s readers! I think it is a fantastic subject to discuss, as I’m sure that most of you have encountered this very situation and perhaps did not know what to do! To learn my advice on the matter, keep on reading.

Nothing to Sneeze At

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:30:20 PDT

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.