Most Aussies embarrassed to ‘Achoo!’ in front of others
More than half of Australians feel embarrassed and anxious when they sneeze in public, new research has found. So why do we sneeze?
READING LEVEL: GREEN
More than half of Australians experience anxiety when they sneeze in public, at work or during social occasions such as weddings and christenings.
Coined “sneez-iety”, new research has revealed poor nose health can have a negative impact on mood (55 per cent) and appetite (46 per cent).
Weddings or christenings topped the list as the most embarrassing events at which to sneeze (45 per cent), followed by matchmaking on a date (24 per cent) or while flying in a plane (20 per cent).
But it wasn’t just social occasions that caused Aussies sneez-iety, with four in 10 respondents* also embarrassed to sneeze during a client* meeting (39 per cent) or while presenting something important at work (35 per cent).
While the office know-it-all (53 per cent) and gossiper* (40 per cent) were the most annoying co-workers, more than a third of Aussies found the colleague* who is always sniffing annoying (38 per cent).
On a more serious note, almost all respondents believed they understood the role their nose played in overall wellbeing. But while 84 per cent believed their sleep was negatively impacted by having a blocked nose, only 47 per cent believed their energy levels were affected, despite the two being inextricably* linked.
The research, which surveyed 1001 Australians for nasal* spray company FESS, also found that the findings were most concerning to the 4.6 million people who suffer from hayfever caused by allergens* such as pollen*, moulds or animal dander*.
Preventive* health specialist Dr Zac Turner said it was important to keep nose health in check.
“With La Nina causing havoc* across the eastern seaboard for the third year running, our grasslands are the lushest they’ve ever been,” Dr Turner said. “And when this is combined with rapid temperature changes between storms and our usual hot summer days, we can expect lots of pollen and plant spores* to be released.”
“Unfortunately, November’s prime grass pollen season could hit allergy sufferers worse than ever.”
Dr Turner recommended people suffering with allergies speak to pharmacists about medicines that could help.
WHY DO WE SNEEZE?
Whether it’s an allergic reaction, a viral infection, a change in temperature or a sudden bright light, your nose becomes irritated. When this happens, your body does what it needs to do to get rid of the pesky irritant — it makes you sneeze.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SNEEZE?
When germs, dust or pollen enter your nose, a message is sent to a part of your brain called the sneeze centre. The sneeze centre sends signals to the parts of your body that help you sneeze. Your chest muscles, diaphragm, abdominals, vocal cords and muscles in the back of your throat all work together.
WHY DO OUR EYES CLOSE?
It’s not known why this happens, but scientists think that when we sneeze, our brain sends a message to close our eyes. Some people think it’s your body’s way of stopping the irritant from entering through your eyes.
DOES IT MATTER HOW WE SNEEZE?
When you sneeze, droplets from your nose and mouth can travel up to two metres away. These droplets may land on everyday surfaces like tables and doorknobs. If you’re sneezing because you have a virus, that virus is transferred to other people when they touch those surfaces – and they could become sick.
Sneezing into your elbow or a clean tissue are the best ways to sneeze.
TOP TIPS
Here are five things you should do when you’re sneezy – it’s common courtesy and helps reduce the spread of infection.
- Be prepared – carry tissues
- Cover your nose with a tissue when sneezing and immediately dispose of it after use
- Sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue; turn your head away from people
- Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Don’t sneeze into your hand – if you do, clean your hands immediately
Source: Queensland Health
GLOSSARY
- respondents: people who answer a request for information and answer survey questions
- client: person who pays for the professional advice and services of someone else
- gossiper: someone who talks about other people’s lives, sometimes being unkind or untrue
- colleague: co-worker, one of a group of people who work together
- inextricably: in a way that can’t be explained or understood
- nasal: coming from the nose
- allergens: substances in the environment that cause an allergic reaction in some people
- pollen: powder from the male part of a flower that the female part needs to produce seeds
- dander: pieces of dry skin in an animal’s fur or hair
- preventive: intended to stop something before it can happen
- havoc: chaos, disorder, a situation that throws everything into disarray
- spores: reproductive cells that can develop into new organisms without other cells
EXTRA READING
Why Melbourne is Earth’s allergy capital
How to become your own snot detective
New dino study is nothing to sneeze at
QUICK QUIZ
- What unusual activity was the third most embarrassing event at which to sneeze?
- What percentage of respondents said that poor nasal health had a negative impact on mood?
- Which office co-workers were the two most annoying?
- How many Australians were surveyed in the study?
- How many Australians suffer from hayfever?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Nose health
After reading this Kids News article, explain why overall nose health is important to your wellbeing.
What can you do about hay fever or blocked noses?
When was your most embarrassing moment to sneeze?
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical education, Personal and social, Critical and Creative thinking
2. Extension
Work with a partner to make observations on each other about what happens when they sneeze. First of all you need to make each other sneeze (tickle with grass, sniff something etc) and then observe all the bodily reactions you notice when they sneeze. Discuss the reactions with each other.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical education, Personal and social, Critical and Creative thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.
Think about:
- What is the main topic or idea?
- What is an important or interesting fact?
- Who was involved (people or places)?
Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.