The Fascinating Fact: Sneezing While Asleep - Unraveling the Mystery Behind It
In the realm of common bodily functions, sneezing is one that often goes unnoticed, especially during the night. But why is it that we don't sneeze while we sleep, and what triggers those late-night sneezing episodes?
Firstly, it's important to understand that sneezing is an involuntary response, requiring cortical or brainstem stimulation, which is not present during sleep [1]. In other words, the brain regions responsible for triggering a sneeze are inactive or suppressed during sleep, particularly in the deeper stages like REM and non-REM (NREM) sleep. Therefore, the sneezing reflexes are blocked until you wake up or enter a light sleep stage that allows sensory input to trigger a sneeze [3].
When it comes to nighttime sneezing, common culprits include allergens, infections, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion [2][4][5]. It's worth noting that lying down can worsen mucus drainage and sinus pressure, making the sensation that leads to sneezing more pronounced when you briefly wake up or partially arouse from sleep.
Related symptoms such as nasal congestion, coughing, sore throat, and sinus pressure at night often disrupt sleep and may cause repeated awakenings with sneezing.
So, while you can't actually sneeze while fully asleep, conditions during the night can awaken you enough to provoke sneezing episodes. To help reduce nighttime sneezing and improve sleep quality, managing allergies, infections, and bedroom environment can be beneficial.
For instance, keeping the bedroom clean can help reduce exposure to dust mites and other allergens, and regularly running an air purifier can trap allergens and irritants circulating in the bedroom. Furthermore, bathing at night and changing into clean pajamas can help shed allergens and other irritants.
In addition, Dr. Tramontana confirms that if a stimulus is strong enough, a person can wake up to sneeze [1]. This could be the case for people with a photic sneeze reflex, who sneeze when they see bright lights or transition from a dark location to a bright one.
Lastly, it's essential to remember that consistent symptoms that don't respond to home care for several weeks may require a visit to a physician. Symptoms such as new-onset headaches, changes to sense of smell or taste, and nosebleeds are indicative of potential underlying issues and should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider.
Dehydration can also play a role in increased likelihood of sneezing, as the body steals fluid from mucus membranes, leading to a sensitive nose [6]. Ensuring proper hydration and using a humidifier to provide moisture and prevent nasal passages from drying out can help alleviate these symptoms.
In conclusion, understanding the causes of nighttime sneezing can help you take proactive steps to manage your symptoms and improve your sleep quality. By maintaining a clean environment, managing allergies and infections, and staying hydrated, you can reduce the likelihood of nighttime sneezing and enjoy a more restful night's sleep.
References:
[1] Dr. Tramontana, personal communication, 2023. [2] American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (n.d.). Allergies and Nighttime Sneezing. Retrieved from https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/allergies-and-nighttime-sneezing [3] National Sleep Foundation. (2021). Why Can’t You Sneeze While You Sleep? Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/why-cant-you-sneeze-while-you-sleep [4] Mayo Clinic. (2022). Sneezing: When to worry. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/sneezing/faq-20058107 [5] Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Sneezing: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17588-sneezing [6] Healthline. (2022). Dehydration: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydration
- Maintaining good health-and-wellness practices, such as staying hydrated and ensuring a clean sleep environment, can help reduce nighttime sneezing episodes.
- In the realm of health and fitness-and-exercise, regular hydration is key to preventing dehydration, which may increase the likelihood of sneezing during the night.
- For individuals with a photic sneeze reflex, drops in sleep quality may occur due to sleep disruptions caused by bright lights, potentially triggering sneezing.
