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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Sneezing

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Posted on Wed, 1 Mar 2017
Question: I keep getting a sensation to sneeze, but nothing comes out. I hardly sneeze in general and have not sneezed at all the past few weeks. Is it possible to lose the ability to sneeze? I am healthy 36 year old with no health issues.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
NO, you have not lost your ability to sneeze!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Sneezing is a reflex and as such it needs to build much pressure to get it completed. There are times that this is simply not the case and while you feel as to, it wouldn’t happen. Also, never try to force a sneeze as it wouldn’t happen. And most often when you try hard to sneeze, you might end up not just sneezing.

In all, you have not lost the ability to sneeze. It simply needs to reach a level of stimulation for it to go through. Be relaxed and you would witness this when need be. Sneezing is always in response to a strong irritant in the airways and without that, you do not need to sneeze.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me for more information and clarifications if need be.

Kind Regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Thanks very much for the response, it makes good sense. Do you think that this symptom is psychological? meaning that the thinking about sneezing or over focusing on it is interfering with the natural process?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Partly, but not always!

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Sneezing is spontaneous. Each time you really try to force it, you will not have it.

Suppose, if you want to sneeze right now, you will simply need an irritant to be put into the respiratory pathways and then only you would. So, it will happen when there is real stimulation for one.

I wish you well and keep me posted with your progress.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (21 hours later)
is there anything that I can do to get rid of the sensation that I need to sneeze then?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
How often do you get this sensation?

Detailed Answer:
HI,

I will like to know how often you get this sensation. If it does happens all the times, I will suggest that you see and ENT specialist for the nostrils to be examined. If it happens once in a while, then I will say be relaxed and monitor further only for now.

However, you should not allow your conscious attitude towards this to maybe create false sensations of feeling as to sneeze. No one really consciously thinks about this and am afraid this might be your current state of mind at this time which only reinforces this impression.

Keep me posted and let me hear back from you. I wish you well.
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Sneezing

Brief Answer: NO, you have not lost your ability to sneeze! Detailed Answer: Hi, Sneezing is a reflex and as such it needs to build much pressure to get it completed. There are times that this is simply not the case and while you feel as to, it wouldn’t happen. Also, never try to force a sneeze as it wouldn’t happen. And most often when you try hard to sneeze, you might end up not just sneezing. In all, you have not lost the ability to sneeze. It simply needs to reach a level of stimulation for it to go through. Be relaxed and you would witness this when need be. Sneezing is always in response to a strong irritant in the airways and without that, you do not need to sneeze. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me for more information and clarifications if need be. Kind Regards