This guide outlines how to stop sneezing, what the causes could be, and when to see your doctor.
Sneezing fits are usually harmless — but can be annoying if they occur more frequently. What causes the attacks and how can they be stopped?
How to stop sneezing: causes
Sneezing can have many causes. Basically, the sneezing reflex is a protective reflex of the body to remove annoying irritants, particles such as dust or pollen, but also pathogens from the upper respiratory tract.
The first sneeze is often followed by one or two more – or the whole thing develops into a real sneezing fit that seems to never end. The first tactic in how to stop sneezing is to understand common factors
Common causes
If sneezing fits occur, infections of the upper respiratory tract (such as a cold, flu, runny nose or sinusitis) are among the most common causes. A deviated or perforated nasal septum can also be accompanied by sneezing attacks.
Other common causes of sneezing attacks include allergic rhinitis (such as hay fever, house dust allergy, animal hair allergy) and dry nasal mucosa.
Reaction to non-specific stimuli in allergy sufferers
In addition to symptoms such as a blocked nose, runny nose and itching in the nose, people who suffer from allergic rhinitis often experience sneezing attacks when the allergens that trigger them (e.g. pollen) come into contact with the nasal mucosa. This is because this causes inflammatory reactions in the nose that can trigger sneezing attacks.
However, sneezing attacks do not always end when the allergy triggers have mostly or completely disappeared. In fact, the allergic inflammation in the nose continues to exist for a while in a minimal form.
As a result, the nose is often oversensitive and now often reacts with a sneezing attack even to actually harmless stimuli that actually have nothing to do with the allergy. Experts then refer to this as nasal hyperreactivity, a tricky factor in how to stop sneezing. Such non-specific stimuli that may trigger a sneezing attack include, for example:
- dry, dusty air
- tobacco smoke
- strong smells
- temperature differences (such as changes from warm to cold air)
- physical exertion
- changes in body position (such as when getting up in the morning)
- emotional stress
- spicy food
- hot drinks
If you identify one of these causes, then eliminating will be key for how to stop sneezing.
Good to know
Even without an allergy, the nasal mucosa of some sufferers can react oversensitively to actually harmless stimuli and thus trigger symptoms such as a runny nose or sneezing attacks. The technical term for this is vasomotor rhinitis.
Dry nasal mucosa as a cause of sneezing attacks
Sneezing attacks can also be caused by a pathologically dry (and often crusty) nose, which is known in technical terms as rhinitis sicca. This can have different causes, such as:
- advanced age
- dust pollution at home or at work
- smoking
- sneezing as a side effect of medication
In addition, various medications can cause a dry nose as a side effect. Paradoxically, this also includes medications used to treat allergic rhinitis. The medications that can trigger sneezing include:
- allergy medications such as antihistamines or nasal sprays containing cortisone
- decongestant nasal sprays (if used for too long)
- diuretics
- blood pressure lowering medications such as beta-blockers
- some antidepressants
Rare causes of sneezing
In rare cases, circumstances that have nothing to do with the nose can also trigger a sneezing attack, and make it more difficult with tactics for how to stop sneezing. These include, for example, sneezing attacks
- after looking at bright light (such as sunlight) (so-called photic sneezing reflex),
- when combing hair,
- when plucking eyebrows,
- when simply imagining sexual activity or after orgasm
- after finishing a meal (due to a full stomach).
In isolated cases, sneezing attacks also seem to occur in connection with certain illnesses: for example, a sneezing attack can also be a harbinger of a migraine or cluster headache attack, as well as a mini-stroke (TIA, transient ischemic attack).
In these cases, the sneezing attack is probably caused by direct or indirect irritation of the trigeminal nerve (so-called triplet nerve). This originates in the skull at the level of the ear, forks into three branches from there and supplies most of the face and part of the chewing muscles.
But not everyone has to sneeze when they look at bright light, pluck their eyebrows or are full — heredity probably plays a role here. Studies on how to stop sneezing show, for example, that the sneezing reflex to bright light and sneezing when the stomach is full can be inherited regardless of gender.
How to stop sneezing: what helps?
If a cold or another infection is behind the sneezing attack, the symptoms usually improve on their own as soon as the illness heals. If an allergy is the cause of the sneezing attacks, allergy medication can reduce sneezing.
A dry nose can also lead to sneezing attacks. It can then help for how to stop sneezing to ensure that the nose is sufficiently moisturized and cared for – for example by rinsing the nose with isotonic saline solution or using nasal sprays with isotonic saline solution, dexpanthenol and/or hyaluronic acid.
Anyone who regularly uses products such as nasal sprays containing cortisone due to allergies should also keep in mind that these can contribute to a dry nose. If sneezing or other symptoms occur during use, it may be advisable to use nasal sprays or nasal rinses with isotonic saline solution at the same time to keep the mucous membranes moist.
Final words
If the sneezing attacks are a side effect of medication such as antihypertensives or antidepressants, you can consult your doctor to consider whether another medication might be suitable to help you in how to stop sneezing.
