Why do I sneeze?

Sometimes, invaders like dust, germs or pollen try to attack you through your nose or mouth. To counter this, your body has special defences to protect itself from them.

When these invaders start to tickle your nose, your nose activates an SOS signal in to your brain, saying “We need to get these out!” A signal is then sent down to your nose.

After your nose receives this signal, your body takes a big breath in, and then, in less than ¼ seconds, the air is pushed out through your nose or mouth.

Sneezing is like your body’s superhero moves to keep you healthy and safe by clearing out stuff that doesn’t belong there!