It’s popularly claimed that a sneeze is equivalent to one-seventh of an orgasm. While we can certainly debate the exact fraction, there is a grain of truth to this. The relaxation after any intense muscle contraction is pleasurable because it triggers the release of feel-good chemicals called endorphins – try this for yourself by squeezing your stomach muscles really tightly. A sneeze is also a response to an ‘itch’, and scratching an itch always brings relief.
Read more:
- What happens in my body when I sneeze?
- How far do coughs and sneezes travel?
- Why do sneezes come in twos or threes?
- Why do we make the ‘atchoo’ sound when we sneeze?
Authors
Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
