Sneezes Blast Air at 100 Kph to Clear Irritants, as 25% Also React to Sunlight

1 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 15

A sneeze is a defensive reflex that starts when nasal receptors detect dust, pollen, viruses, cold air or other irritants and send signals through the trigeminal nerve to a brainstem “sneeze center.”
Nearly 100 kph airflow follows a tightly coordinated sequence—deep inhalation, glottis closure, pressure buildup and explosive release—expelling mucus, particles and microbes before they reach deeper airways.
A 2025 review also suggests sneezing may redistribute mucus across the nasal cavity, strengthening the nose’s broader immune defenses rather than simply blasting material outward.
Eye closure during sneezing reflects activation of facial muscle pathways, not pressure that could dislodge the eyes; some people can partly override the reflex voluntarily.
About 25% of people have a photic sneeze reflex triggered by bright light, while across evolution true sneezing appears mainly in air-breathing animals with the anatomy to detect irritants and expel them forcefully.

If sneezing is protective, why does it become a chronic problem in conditions like allergies?

Is the 'sun sneeze' just a genetic glitch, or does this strange reflex have a hidden evolutionary purpose?

Beyond antihistamines, what new therapies are emerging to control chronic sneezing and allergies?