Ever wondered why some people let out a dainty outburst, while others sound like they’re exploding? (myself included)
A sneeze turns out, actually to be a defence mechanism to protect your airways from harmful environmental factors.
Professor Richard Harvey, of St Vincents and Macquarie University Hospitals, says when the irritation to your nose makes it watery and itchy, this leads to “an explosive release of air” — the sneeze.
Professor Harvey says the loudness of a person’s sneeze depends on their lung capacity, size and how long they hold their breath for – the longer you hold your breath, the more dramatic you make it.
An average man’s sneeze measured at a distance of 60cm and records about 90 decibels.
When you cover your mouth, it drops to around 80dB.
But there is a solution. Apparently you can control how loud you sneeze by pinching and rubbing your nose, or sneeze through your nose.
Just make sure you never hold your sneeze.
Professor Harvey says this is like a mini explosion in your head that can force air into places it shouldn’t go.
Some people have even damaged their larynxes.
Think I will take my mum’s advice and always keep a tissue handy.
