When you sneeze, you release droplets (like the above!) into the air. Here’s why that matters.
Think about a sneeze. You feel a tickle building in your nose. You close your eyes and scrunch your face. Suddenly—ACHOO! You release a cloud of spit and snot into the air.
Has this happened to you recently? Chances are, it has. It’s normal to sneeze up to three times a day. But why exactly do we sneeze?
Nose Blasts
Sneezing can happen when you inhale, or breathe in, air. You sometimes breathe in dust or germs too. Your body decides it doesn’t want those dirty particles. So it sneezes them back out by sending spit and snot through your nose! Sneezing helps your body stay clean and healthy.
But sneezing can also spread illness. If a sick person sneezes, they can spray germs. The germs can fly far—up to 26 feet! If you touch or sniff the sneeze cloud, you can get sick too.
That’s why it’s important to sneeze into a tissue or into your elbow.
Wild Sneezes
Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures
Marine iguana
Plenty of other animals sneeze too. Take marine iguanas. These big lizards often swallow salt water from the sea. They need to get rid of the extra salt. So they sneeze it out!
Goats are also sneezing creatures. Many goats live together in a pack. If one goat sees danger nearby, it will sneeze to warn the other goats!
Even mighty elephants sneeze. They send out a giant spray through their 6-foot-long trunks. Our advice? If you see an elephant that’s about to sneeze, get out of its way!
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