Sneezing

jamesnan | 09:09 Thu 12th Apr 2012 | ChatterBank

8 Answers

Is it possible that you sneeze in your sleep, or does it just not happen? I can't ever remember being woken up with a sneezw!

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sheranudeep

Best Answer

09:12 Thu 12th Apr 2012

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murraymints

mmm!!..how would I know if I am asleep ?

sheranudeep

Sneezing is a reflex, which means that it's an uncontrollable physical response to an outside stimulus. When something, say a piece of dust or a strong odor, stimulates nerve endings in the lining of the nose, the stimulus travels to the central nervous system and is then routed back to the muscles of the face, throat and chest. Once stimulated, these muscles go to work and cause us to forcefully expel air from the mouth and nose. Or, in other words, we sneeze.
Because the nose lining tends to swell when we lie down, making it even more sensitive to sneeze-causing particles, it would seem that sneezing would be likely during sleep. However, since there is little airflow in most bedrooms at night, and little movement to stir up dust and other particles, the nose is not bombarded by as many foreign particles as it is during the day. Furthermore, the area of the brain responsible for the sneeze reflex relaxes while we sleep. So, even when a particle does touch the nose lining, the brain doesn't notice, and we don't sneeze.

Sqad

sheanudeep has given a good insight.

Sleep is just a state of unconsciousness and sneezing as sdp has said is a reflex action.In the early stages of sleep, sneezing is possible, but from them on sneezing will not occur.

LoftyLottie

I sneeze almost continually, day in and day out, but have never been woken up with a sneeze. Usually the first sneeze comes about a minute after a wake up.