# Sneezing And Coughing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-and-coughing/140083>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-and-coughing/140083 "2002-12-02T23:53:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-and-coughing/140083/1 "2002-12-02T23:53:38Z")

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my friend had a question: when people sneeze, you say ‘bless you.’ why doesn’t anyone say anything when you cough?  
emma

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-and-coughing/140083/2 "2002-12-03T01:03:13Z")

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I routinely say “Gesundheit,” when somebody sneezes, coughs, or even belches or farts dramatically. It’s a traditional wish for good health. I’m not a “bless you-er” for such occasions. I never believed that folks with allergies are more blessed or blessable.