Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: tony6789 on 31/01/2006 16:12:06

Title: sneZZe
Post by: tony6789 on 31/01/2006 16:12:06

I heard it is impossible to snezze with ur eyes open

- Big T

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: neilep on 31/01/2006 16:16:34

It's true..this question has been raised before. If you don't close your eyes, they will pop out when you sneeze ! [:D]...unless you wear goggles !!...but then they're liable to go splat !! [8D]

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: ROBERT on 01/02/2006 12:26:15

I believe the reflex to close eyes when sneezing is to prevent the aerosol of infected mucus ejected from the nose from entering eyes.

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: another_someone on 01/02/2006 23:27:40

OK, while on this topic, why do we sneeze?

By this, I am not asking what the mechanism of sneezing is, but does it actually do us any good?

Clearly, we need to expel contaminated mucus, but do we need to do with with such force?

Some people seem just to drip, drip, drip; while others, like myself, can be quite forceful in expelling our nasal mucus.  It seems to me that expelling the mucus with such force is of greater value to the parasite (virus, bacteria, or whatever) that is being expelled than it is to us.  It seems to me that the great force is likely to create aerosol particles which would increase the likelihood that the parasite will find a new home.

Some parasites are quite capable of changing the behaviour of their host in order to maximise their own likelihood of finding further hosts.

So the question is, is the sneeze for the benefit of the infected person, or the benefit of the parasite?

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: rosy on 01/02/2006 23:50:12

I guess sneezing would be beneficial to humans (and indeed other mammals... do birds sneeze too?)if they had something stuck up their nose (same for coughing if something stuck in the windpipe)... since airbourne viruses etc clearly benefit from being *more* airbourne it seems likely that parasites which could trigger the reflex would be more successful and so those genes would spread.
I'd make a totally uneducated guess and say that sneezing per se developed for the benefit of the sneezer, but sneezing as a result of a cold is encouraged by, as it were, the sneezee.

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: ukmicky on 02/02/2006 00:42:02

Its true you cant keep your eyes open when you sneeze, i had a car accident a few years back when i misjudged my braking whilst having a sneezing fit

Michael                 HAPPY NEW YEAR                     (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Fparty-smiley-012.gif&hash=844994fd61764508c533537d6874634d)

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: Ray hinton on 03/02/2006 23:54:10

my nipper sneezed the other day ,she sent snot and yogurt all over me ,as i was feeding her at the time,she also soiled herself.is this normal? [xx(]

every village has one !

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: tony6789 on 07/02/2006 14:37:31

i have done it though! It hurt like .... but i still did it!

- Big T

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: neilep on 09/02/2006 19:57:13

What did you do Tony ?...sneeze with your eyes open ?...and they didn't fly out at 100mph ?

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: tony6789 on 22/02/2006 14:35:05

lol hey who are you the independent state of me?

- Big T

Title: Re: sneZZe
Post by: venusww on 07/05/2006 14:20:12

Well sneezing is definitly a gift from Nature, enabling one to get rid of infections. Its all mechanism is contrlled by center in brain. What are muscles that contract while sneezing.
Phryngial muscles
eye muscles
rib muscles
diaphragm.

Dr.Armughan

http://www.highbloodpressuremed.com