Sneezing While Sleeping

By Anupum Pant

Have you ever sneezed when you were asleep? Or have you seen someone do it? I haven’t. So, is it really possible for a person to sneeze while they are asleep?

Well, as expected, the answer is no. That’s why you never see people sneezing in their sleep.

Sneezing is a reflex action, that happens when some particulate matter or irritant gets inside your nose. It’s nature’s way to keep unwanted stuff out. But when you sleep, your body produces something called G.A.B.A, or gamma-Aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter which suppresses reflex.

But that’s scary, right? What if stuff goes in while you are asleep. Well, the body has a way to deal with that too. So, if you are sleeping and you are no longer prone to sneezing if anything enters your nose, there’s still a point at which too much irritation is deemed too much by your body. At this point, you wake up first and you then sneeze. Wow!

3 thoughts on “Sneezing While Sleeping”

  1. Thank you for your response. But what of somebody coughing even when they were asleep? Is coughing not a reflex action?

  2. The other night I actually did sneeze while I was sleeping. It woke me up, and my husband told me that I sneezed. So guess what? Yes, you can sneeze during your sleep. This is the only time that thks has happened and I am in my 40’s.

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