It's sneezing season and you are bound to know a sneezer who shakes the house and sets off car alarms with each mighty outburst.
There are some true physical reasons for the loud sneeze.
Otolaryngologists at the Stanford Sinus Center say the variance in volume is caused by differences in anatomy, such as lung volume, abdominal strength, and trachea size. In some people, the body uses more muscles to sneeze than other people do.
While sneezes can be annoying, people really shouldn't hold a sneeze in. It can actually cause damage to the eardrum, soft tissue of the neck and even eyes.
Nonetheless, we can do some things to quiet a sneeze.
1. Use a thick handkerchief instead of a tissue. The fabric muffles the sound and decreases the spread of germs.
2. Hold your breath right before a sneeze. It might interrupt the body's coordinated reflex.
3. Cough at the same time you sneeze, which suppresses the sound. A cough blunts the reflex and decreases the volume.
4. Clench your teeth and jaw, which suppresses the sound. Keep your lips open to prevent air-pressure buildup.
Of course, there is also sneeze commentary that often follows a loud sneeze. That is the equally loud sound that goes something like: arrgh, wob, wob, wob. That's optional. Loud sneezers might limit the commentary. Everyone thanks you.
