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You may sneeze a lot if triggers irritate your nose or you have certain medical conditions. You may be able to prevent sneezing by treating the underlying cause, avoiding triggers, or trying certain tricks.
Almost anything that irritates your nose can make you sneeze. Sneezing, also called sternutation, is usually triggered by particles of dust, pollen, animal dander, and the like.
It’s also a way for your body to expel unwanted germs, which can irritate your nasal passages and make you want to sneeze.
Like blinking or breathing, sneezing is a semiautonomous reflex. This means that you have some conscious control over it.
You may be able to delay your sneeze long enough to grab a tissue, but stopping it altogether is tricky. Here, we’ll teach you all the tricks:
Identify the cause of your sneezing so that you can treat it accordingly. What makes you sneeze?
Common triggers include:
- dust
- pollen
- mold
- pet dander
- bright lights
- perfume
- spicy foods
- black pepper
- common cold viruses
If you think your sneezing is caused by an allergy to something and you’re having trouble determining what your allergy triggers are, your doctor can order an allergy test.
People with allergies often sneeze in bursts of two to three sneezes. Take note of when and where you sneeze the most.
Seasonal allergies are very common. Allergies associated with a place, such as your office, could be from contaminants like mold or pet dander.
A daily over-the-counter (OTC) anti-allergy pill or intranasal spray may be enough to control your symptoms. Common OTC antihistamine tablets include:
- cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- fexofenadine (Allegra)
- loratadine (Claritin, Alavert)
Glucocorticosteroid intranasal sprays available over the counter include fluticasone propionate (Flonase) and triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort).
Shop for OTC anti-allergy pills and intranasal sprays online.
Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication therapy that, depending on your insurance plan, might be more affordable.
People in some occupations are more likely than others to encounter airborne irritants. Inhalable dust is common at many job sites and can be extremely irritating to the nose and sinuses.
This includes organic and inorganic dust from things like:
- chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides
- cement
- coal
- asbestos
- metals
- wood
- poultry
- grain and flour
Over time, these irritants can lead to cancers of the nose, throat, and lungs as well as other chronic respiratory problems. Always wear protective gear, such as a mask or respirator, when working around inhalable dust.
Reducing the amount of dust exposure by preventing it from being formed or by using a ventilation system to remove dust particles are other ways you can prevent breathing in harmful dust particles.
About one-third of people have a condition that causes them to sneeze when they look at bright lights. Even stepping outside on a sunny day can cause some people to sneeze.
Known as photic sneezing, this condition often runs in families.
Protect your eyes with polarized sunglasses, and put them on before you leave the house!
Shop for polarized sunglasses online.
Some people sneeze after eating large meals. This condition isn’t well understood by the medical community.
A researcher nicknamed it snatiation, which is a combination of the words “sneeze” and “satiation” (feeling full). The name stuck.
To avoid snatiation, chew slowly and eat smaller meals.
Some people believe that saying an odd word right as you feel you’re about to sneeze distracts you from sneezing.
Evidence for this tip is entirely anecdotal, but just as you’re gearing up to sneeze, say something like “pickles.”
Sneezes are caused by irritants in your nose and sinuses. When you feel like you’re about to sneeze, try blowing your nose.
You might be able to blow out the irritant and deactivate the sneeze reflex. Keep a box of soft tissues with lotion at your desk or a travel pack in your bag.
Shop for soft tissues online.
This is another method for trying to stifle a sneeze just before it happens. When you feel a sneeze coming on, try pinching your nose at the nostrils, like you might if something smelled bad.
You can also try pinching your nose near the very top, just below the inside of your eyebrows.
You may be able to stop a sneeze by tickling the roof of your mouth with your tongue. After about 5 to 10 seconds, the urge to sneeze may dissipate.
Another tongue method involves pressing your tongue hard against your two front teeth until the urge to sneeze passes.
Some people with severe sneezing or runny nose may want to see an allergist, who may suggest using a method called immunotherapy to reduce sensitivity to allergens.
This works by injecting a small amount of the allergen into the body. After receiving multiple shots over time, you can build up increased resistance to the allergen.
Q&A
Q: Is it bad for your health to stifle a sneeze?
A: In general, trying stifle a sneeze likely won’t cause major bodily harm. However, while doing so, your eardrums may pop, or you may have a slight feeling of pressure in your face or forehead. If you find yourself trying to stifle sneezes on a regular basis, it would be better for you to seek medical assistance from your doctor in order to try to figure out why you’re sneezing so much in the first place. Your body is likely trying to protect itself by causing you to sneeze out something it sees as irritating to your nose. — Stacy R. Sampson, DO
Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Sneezing is just one of your body’s many natural defense mechanisms. It helps prevent irritants from making their way further into your respiratory system, where they can cause potentially serious problems.
But some people are much more sensitive to irritants than others.
If you’re sneezing too much, don’t worry. It’s rarely a symptom of anything serious, but it can be annoying.
In many cases, you don’t have to rely on medications. You can prevent sneezing through certain lifestyle changes. There are also plenty of tricks to try to stop a sneeze in its tracks.