Control a Sneeze
Sneezing is good. It's a reflex that is intended to rid your nasal passages of an irritant or infection. If you suppress a sneeze the irritants remain trapped in your nose. So go ahead and blow, and consider the following.
Instructions
1. Get away from environmental irritants: If the pollen count is high, go inside, turn on the air conditioner and close the windows; if you're allergic to your neighbor's cat, avoid Fluffy.
2. Wash your hands once you've removed yourself from the source of your sneezes, blow your nose and try to breath slowly from your diaphragm.
3. Treat any infection or cold you may have. (See "Treat A Cold.")
4. Consider taking an antihistamine. These over-the-counter drugs will dry up your nose and reduce that tickling, itchy feeling.
5. Time your medication dose with your activities. If you're taking an antihistamine to counteract allergies to pollen, dose yourself at least an hour before you go outside.
6. Check filters. If you begin sneezing when you turn on your furnace, your filters may be dusty and spreading irritants into your house.
7. Evaluate your sneeze to determine its cause. (See "Diagnose a Sneeze.")
8. Get tested for allergies. If you sneeze a lot and don't know why, and you don't have an ongoing infection, see an allergy doctor for skin testing.
9. Stay out of bright light if sunshine makes you sneeze.
Tags: your nose, , taking antihistamine, your furnace
