Sneezing, Snoring, and Snoozing

This week Tidbits gives you an analytical look at a few of the physiological foibles that all of us unavoidably experience in life -- whether on the giving end, or as unwilling receivers. So grab your earplugs and Kleenex as we look at some of the facts about sneezing, snoozing, and snoring!

SNEEZING

• Why do we sneeze? The body is reacting to an irritant, such as dust, pollen, or pet dander in the lining of the nose. Once an irritant enters the nose, the nose sends up a signal to the brain to get rid of it. It causes a deep breath, which causes the chest muscles to tighten, which in turn forces the tongue against the roof of the mouth. When the breath is suddenly released, the powerful rush of air exits the nose, expelling the irritant.

• Just how fast is that air traveling? Amazingly, in that short distance a sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour! And the louder the sneeze, the faster that air is moving.

• A typical sneeze can spew out about 40,000 droplets of mucus of various sizes all at once. It comes from the storehouse of about one to two pints of mucus produced by the nasal membrane every single day.

A typical sneeze can spew out about 40,000 droplets of mucus of various sizes all at once.

• Just try to keep your eyes open when you sneeze. It can’t be done! Your eyes will automatically and involuntarily close because when the brain receives the signal to sneeze, it instantly triggers the eyes to close.

• Your mother was right when she told you, “Cover your mouth!” Although a sneeze lasts just milliseconds, its spray reaches distances exceeding five feet. The largest droplets quickly sink because of their own weight, usually after about three feet, but the tinyest droplets can be carried by the air up to 26 feet! In fact, it’s been shown that buoyant air can keep the tiny droplets airborne long enough to reach a building’s overhead vents.

• You may have heard that your heart stops when you sneeze. Not so! However, the heart’s rhythm can change due to the change in pressure in the chest. A sneeze also momentarily alters your blood flow.

• Since your eyes are already closed when you’re asleep, one would think you would sneeze then. However, due to the fact that the nerves that cause you to sneeze are also resting, you can’t sneeze as you slumber.

• Although some people manage to do so, you shouldn’t really try to hold in a sneeze. All kinds of negative things can result, including broken blood vessels in the eyes, damage to blood vessels in the brain, or ruptured eardrums. Although those instances are relatively rare, why risk the chance? When you need to hold back a sneeze, sometimes pressing your upper lip under your nose can work, or forcing a deep heavy breath out of your nose. Even the simple act of briskly rubbing your nostrils can often stifle the sneeze mechanism.

SNORING

• “The old man is snoring,” goes the old nursery rhyme. So why might he be snoring? There are a number of reasons, and it’s not just old men! Snoring is the result of loose tissue in the body’s upper airway that can vibrate with our breathing as we sleep. The sleep state causes the muscles in the throat, tongue, and mouth to relax, which in turn can cause that soft tissue to droop and block part of the airway, creating a vibration as inhaled air passes through. Your subconscious brain signals that it's not receiving enough oxygen, causing you to breathe even more deeply.

• Other body parts can also contribute to snoring. A deviated septum occurs when the thin wall between your nostrils is off-center, making one nasal passage smaller, which reduces airflow and contributes to snoring. A longer-than-normal uvula, that dangly tissue in the back of the throat, can lead to snoring, as can excessive tissue in the throat as a result of being overweight. The snoring of overweight people tends to be much louder.

A deviated septum occurs when the thin wall between your nostrils is off-center, making one nasal passage smaller, which reduces airflow and contributes to snoring.

• Alcohol consumption leads to snoring because it relaxes the muscles that make for more resistance in the airways, as well as causing a dry mouth and nasal passages, which increase the chances.

• If you sleep on your back, you’re more likely to snore because soft tissues are shifted into the airway by gravity, along with the pressure of the weight of the neck and chest. Sleep deprivation also leads to increased snoring.

• About 40% of men and 25% of women are regular snorers. Not surprisingly, snoring can be a reason for relationship and marriage failure. SUS, or socially unacceptable snoring, is so loud that it often prevents the other partner from getting an adequate night’s sleep.

• Besides being irritating, snoring can be the indicator of serious health risks. In the case of sleep apnea, the throat’s airways are mostly blocked, causing the breathing to stop for about 10 seconds, something that can happen hundreds of times in one night. About half of those who snore suffer from sleep apnea. Some studies indicate snorers are five times more at risk for hypertension, stroke, and cardiac disease. High blood pressure and even an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes may also result.

SNOOZING

• Is it nap time? According to the National Sleep Foundation, an estimated 60 million Americans are chronically sleep-deprived and could really do with a nap. Sleep deprivation leads to lower productivity and more employee mistakes, causing U.S. industries to lose nearly $150 billion every year. A 40-minute nap can improve performance by as much as 34%, while a 60-minute nap boosts alertness up to 10 hours. Just a 6-minute catnap can make a difference inhow well a person retains information.

• Sleep deprivation has been attributed as the cause of the 1980 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the Challenger space shuttle disaster. It also accounts for one in six road fatalities.

• Naps can be divided into three categories: planned napping, which is just what it sounds like -- planning a nap before one gets sleepy; emergency napping, when a person is suddenly very tired and can’t continue an activity; and habitual napping, which takes place at the same time each day.

• While napping at work in the U.S. isn’t considered acceptable behavior, other countries encourage this practice. The Japanese have a name for napping at work, “inemur,” which translates “to be asleep while present.” Some U.S. companies, about 16%, are now incorporating napping into the work day.

• Sleep researchers tell us to keep our naps to 20 to 30 minutes. Anything longer can interfere with nighttime sleep.

Napping can result in improved heart health.

• Napping can result in improved health. A study of 24,000 people showed that those who napped twice a week reduced their risk of coronary heart disease by 12%. That percentage improved to 37% for those who napped three times a week. Still another study showed that folks who take a one-hour nap are less impulsive and less frustrated in their daily lives. □