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Sneezing

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jamesnan | 09:09 Thu 12th Apr 2012 | ChatterBank
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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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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...
09:12 Thu 12th Apr 2012
mmm!!..how would I know if I am asleep ?
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.
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.
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.
Bless yu lottie!

Did you know that it is impossible to vomit if you smile, or at least hold the mouth in a smiling position!
Urgh neti...I can't imagine anyone wanting to smile when about to vomit.
I've never been woken by a sneeze but I have been woken up with hiccups
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I always sneeze when I have a glass of liquer, Tia Maria or cherry brandy in particular, so no crafty glasses for me!!!
Thanks for the info!
Sqad, sheranudeep has copied and pasted the answer from any of a number of other sites ;)

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