How to Stop Sneezing

Sneezing is a natural reflex of the body. In many places, it’s seen as an involuntary action that can annoy others, especially when the person sneezing doesn’t have a tissue on hand. However, there are those who wish to stop sneezing for various reasons, including the person who set a Guinness record by sneezing for 977 days with over a million sneezes.

Pinch your nose. Pinch the area just above the nose and pull out as if trying to detach your nose from your face. This motion causes pain, but it can stop the sneeze by stretching the cartilage.

Blow your nose. Use a tissue to blow your nose when you feel a sneeze coming. Blowing your nose helps clear the sinuses, which are often the cause of sneezing.

Pinch your upper lip. Use your thumb and index finger to gently pinch the upper lip and press upward towards the nostrils. The thumb should point toward one nostril, the index finger towards the other, while the upper lip curls slightly.

Use your tongue. Press your tongue against your two front teeth, where the roof of the mouth meets the gums. Apply as much pressure as possible until the urge to sneeze subsides.

Pause, bend down, and wait. Find a small table at home, lower your face about 2.5 cm from the surface, and stick out your tongue; the sneeze will naturally subside in about 5-7 seconds. If it doesn’t work, at least it will get anyone nearby to move away!

Make yourself ticklish. Use the tip of your tongue to tickle the roof of your mouth when you feel the urge to sneeze. Continue until the sneezing sensation disappears. This method might take 5-10 seconds.

Use your hand to distract. Stretch your thumb away from the other fingers. Use the nails of your thumb and index finger from the opposite hand to pinch the skin between the thumb and index finger of the same hand.

Pinch the spot between your eyebrows. This is a common pressure point used to relieve headaches, and it can also help stop a sneeze. Pinch the area between your eyebrows with your thumb and index finger until you feel a strong pulling sensation.

Press below your nose. Use the side of your index finger (keeping it horizontal under the eyes) to press on the cartilage of the nose, just below the bridge. This action will compress one of the nerves responsible for triggering sneezing.

Gently press your ears. Hold the earlobe and gently wiggle it when you feel a sneeze coming. This motion can be disguised as fiddling with an earring when trying to suppress a sneeze in public.

Make an angry face. Clench your teeth while forcing your tongue to stretch out (apply pressure behind your front teeth). The harder you press, the more effective it is! This stimulation can help stop a sneeze.

Use black caraway seeds. You can purchase them online or at a vitamin/herb store. Wrap a handful of seeds in a piece of cloth, like a handkerchief or towel, then roll it in your palm to crush the seeds. Hold it close to your nose and take a few deep breaths. The sneeze will disappear!

Avoid putting yourself at risk of sneezing (referred to as snatiation in English). Yes, it’s true. There is actually a medical condition where you can’t stop sneezing due to fullness of the stomach. This usually happens after eating a large meal. So, how do you prevent it? Don’t overeat.

• If you're curious, the word “snatiation’’ is an acronym for the English phrase (Sneezing Non-controllably At a Time of Indulgence of the Appetite—a Trait Inherited and Ordained to be Named). It’s a combination of the words sneeze and satiation. Now that you know about this phenomenon, you can manage your eating habits. Do you often sneeze after eating?

Determine if you have "sun-induced sneezing". If you notice that you sneeze when exposed to bright light, you may have a condition called photic sneeze reflex. This affects 18-35% of the population and is sometimes called the ACHOO syndrome (Autosomal dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst syndrome). Now you know something new! This condition is genetic and can be treated with antihistamines if it becomes bothersome.

• Alternatively, you can wear sunglasses (especially those with bifocal lenses) or a scarf. When exposed to bright light (or sunlight), look away and focus on something darker or moderately lit. This is especially important if you’re driving.

Prepare in advance. If you are about to enter an environment that might trigger sneezing (for instance, if pepper or pollen is in the air), take preventive measures.

• Bring tissues. Sneezing often goes hand in hand with a runny nose.
• Find ways to moisturize your nostrils. This can help prevent sneezing before it happens. While inhaling water is certainly not a viable option, you can apply a damp cloth to your nostrils, use eye drops, or inhale steam from a hot cup of water.

Avoid allergens. For those who don't just sneeze occasionally but often experience continuous sneezing fits, environmental factors could be the culprit. In addition to visiting a doctor, consider the possibility of allergies. Sneezing can be significantly reduced.

• Use antihistamines. These medications not only prevent sneezing but also reduce coughing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes. Benadryl is known to cause drowsiness, but other options like Claritin have far fewer side effects.
• Keep windows and doors closed. This applies to cars as well. The less exposure to allergens, the better. Keep what should be outside from entering your space.
• If you've been outside for a while, shower and change clothes. Pollen might have clung to you.

Know when to stop sneezing. Sneezing, technically known as a ‘sternutation’, is a natural defense mechanism of the body. Typically, a sneeze expels air from the body at speeds up to 160 km/h, which is very fast and can cause harm if blocked improperly. Therefore, you should never try to stop a sneeze once it has begun.

• For example, don’t pinch your nose or cover your mouth while sneezing. This can cause serious damage. If a sneeze isn’t allowed to exit, the force and speed of an average sneeze can lead to hearing loss and harm the blood vessels in your head, especially if you tend to hold in your sneeze once it starts.

Sneeze properly. When others are nearby, sneezing once (or two, three, or even four times) into the air can spread harmful bacteria. The "mist" you emit can travel as far as 1.5 meters! This range can affect many people. So, be cautious!

• If possible, sneeze into a tissue and dispose of it. If no tissue is available, sneeze into your sleeve. If you sneeze into your hands, be sure to wash them immediately. Hands commonly touch door handles, faces, surfaces, and others. If you happen to be far from a water source, remember to bring hand sanitizer for safety.

Sneeze politely. When you're in a crowd, you're likely to receive angry stares if you sneeze too casually. You're spreading germs and disrupting the event, so it's best to sneeze as discreetly as possible.

• Sneezing into your elbow can help reduce the sound. If you prefer not to use your elbow, grab a tissue, bend your head down, and try to sneeze as quietly as possible.

Sneeze safely. If you have a broken rib, sneezing can be extremely painful. Try to exhale all the air from your lungs. This will reduce the pressure on your ribs and significantly weaken the sneeze, thereby reducing the pain.

• Indeed, if any part of your abdomen hurts, you wouldn't want to sneeze at all. Follow the preventive measures mentioned, but focus on exhaling. When there's less air to expel, internal organs won't shake, and the sneeze won't have long-lasting effects.

• Suppressing a sneeze or trying to stop it while it is happening can cause pneumomediastinum, a very dangerous condition.
• Holding in a sneeze can be hazardous to your health. See the links below to learn more about cases of serious injury caused by stopping a sneeze.
• Holding in a sneeze can damage the diaphragm, rupture blood vessels, and in severe cases, it can weaken or even rupture blood vessels in the brain due to a temporary increase in blood pressure.