Thumbelyna Quick Hands wrote:
MentalFrog wrote:
I once accidently snorted cayenne. Holy hell I never sneezed so hard in my life.
How did that happen?
A sternutation or, more commonly known, sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose and mouth. This air can reach speeds of 100-200 mph and an unimpeded sneeze sends two to five thousand bacteria-filled droplets into the air.
Sneezing is generally caused by irritation in the passages of the nose. Allergens such as pollens, pet dander, house dust mites, as well as nonallergenic particles are usually harmless, but when they irritate the nose the body responds by expelling them from the nasal passages. The nose mistakes strong odors, sudden chills, bright lights (see photic sneeze reflex), and even orgasms in some people for nasal irritants, and it tries to defend itself with a sneeze.