Eli5: What happens when you sneeze? And why does it happen multiple times?

Question

I’m one of those weirdos that enjoys a good sneeze, but I don’t understand what happens when you sneeze. Why does our body react in such a way? And why do we have it built into our systems? And why do they often come in multiples?

In: 33

Answer 1

Sneezing is the body’s way of clearing out debris in your airways. It’s why when you tickle someone’s nose with a feather, they sneeze, to get rid of the foreign matter.