Why does looking at the sun make you sneeze???? Or am I just weird?

Answer 1

About 25% of people do actually sneeze when exposed to bright lights like the sun. We do not know exactly why this happens, but it might reflect a "crossing" of pathways in the brain, between the normal reflex of the eye in response to light and the sneezing reflex. There is no apparent benefit from "sun-sneezing", and it probably is nothing more than an unimportant (but annoying) holdover of evolution.

On a side note, my husband often sneezes when going outside to a bright sunny day. I do sometimes...When I feel a sneeze that won't come out I find it helps to look at a bright light (not necessarily the sun). Our 3-month old son now sneezes 2-3 times every time we take him outside during the day! So NO you are not weird!

Answer 2

A very good question with a not-so-simple answer. It is estimated that about 1 in 4 people are sun-sneezers. The "why" is a little complicated. Here's a quote from the source listed below:

"In the pupillary light reflex, shining a light in the eye causes nerve signals to go from the eye to the brain and then back the eye again, telling the pupil to constrict. In the usual sneeze reflex, tickling the nose causes nerve signals to go from the nose to the brain and then back out to the nose, mouth, chest muscles and everything else involved in the actual sneeze.The key point is that the nerve signals take complicated routes through the brain, but usually the pupillary light reflex and sneeze reflex take different routes. Apparently what happens in sun-sneezers is that shining a bright enough light in the eye ALSO sends nerves signals from the eye to the brain and then back out to the nose, mouth and chest! In short, the wires are crossed a little bit in some people, and so shining a light in the eye "accidentally" activates two different outgoing pathways."

For more information on this fascinating subject go to the link given below.

Answer 3

Looking at the sun makes me sneeze.

Answer 4

Ohhhh come here give us a hug. No you are not weird, I am the weird one because I do that on purpose all the time to make me sneeze in order to clear my head when I have a cold. I also sniff peppers if the sun didnt help. I guess its to do with extreme climate changes in your nostrils will give you the sneezing sensation. just like sun or peppers.

Answer 5

I GET THAT !!!! but my boyfriend just thinks im a FREAK OF NATURE!!!! lol its not just the sun that makes me sneeze its any form of bright light or when i close my eyes and look up and imagine the sun is there. ok mabi i am a freak or nature lol :p

Answer 6

some people's optic nerves cross some nerve that connects the brain to their nose. some people do sneeze when they come out in light after coming from a dark place because the impulse from the optic nerve going towards the brain does something to the nerve going to the nose making you sneeze.

Answer 7

you are not weird, it's called the photic sneeze reflex. Maybe a quarter of people have this. It's not an illness and is more common in Caucasians.

it's crosstalk of your optic nerve with your "sneezing nerve" lame name.

try Wikipedia

Answer 8

It causes your eyes to water and the excess 'tears' drain through your tearducts down your nose and this sometimes irritates the nasal lining making you sneeze! If you are female (or maybe a guy!) its similar to the reaction you might get when you pluck your eyebrows.

Answer 9

Yes looking at the sun does make people sneeze.And no ur not weird.I think the cause of this is the bright light of the sun.

Answer 10

Someone told me that looking at light does make you sneeze. I don't really know why. You're not crazy.