Why do we Sneeze?

Have you ever been told by your grandparents that someone is remembering you while you sneeze? Well, people across the world have this habit of wishing the person who sneezes with goodwill messages and greetings. Sneezing is also associated with several myths among different countries across the globe. But scientifically what causes sneezing? Sneezing is basically a semi-autonomous defensive mechanism of our body to banish foreign particles from our nasal cavity. The inside of the nose is lined with mucous membrane. The mucous membrane has receptors or nerve endings which detect the irritants like dirt, dust, pathogens, etc and trigger a reflex action. The stimulus is routed via the reflex arc to the brain and back to the effectors located in face, throat, lungs and diaphragm. This makes you inhale a deep breath abruptly followed by a powerful release of the air and bioparticles in a sudden burst. Sneezing is good because it lets you eject harmful substances from your body. But people having allergies are prone to recurrent sneezing and it deserves medical attention promptly. Make sure that you hold a tissue to your nose and mouth while you sneeze so that you don't infect others nearby.