# Why don't we sneeze while asleep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457 "2004-05-04T13:15:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/1 "2004-05-04T13:15:35Z")
I suffer from allergies that often cause me multiple sneezes and runny nose until I take some anti allergic drug to help. However, I find it a little difficult to understand that whatever the cause of that allergy, has its effect only when I am awake. It is only after I wake up in the morning that the sneezing starts. Why have I never woken up because of a sneeze or have not sneezed in sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/2 "2004-05-04T13:17:48Z")
I have, and (obviously) it’s woken myself up in the process. All in all, such bodily functions still go on while sleeping… ---
**Author:** ![arachnidlove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@arachnidlove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arachnidlove)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/3 "2004-05-04T20:43:02Z")
I frequently sneeze in my sleep. Its annoying because its often messy. I don’t have time to prepare myself from the damage and end up changing pillow cases alot. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/4 "2004-05-04T21:07:46Z")
I’ve sneezed while asleep & it always wakes me up. ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/5 "2004-05-04T21:52:36Z")
Ok…let me rephrase the question then. Why don’t we sneeze as often while asleep as when awake? Now…is that better you nighttime snot blowers? ---
**Author:** ![FX45\_4Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4bbf92/32.png) [@FX45\_4Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FX45_4Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/6 "2004-05-04T22:31:26Z")
IMHO it is because you are lying still, in a still room with little allergens, not moving around stirring up dust perhaps. 🙂 I sneeze myself awake, I get the tickly, itchy nose and wake up to sneeze, I drool, belch, crepitate, flatulence, and so on… the only thing I don’t do (yet) is release my bladder or bowels (give me about 40 more years) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-while-asleep/243457/7 "2004-05-05T15:21:23Z")
I still think the answer lies somewhere else. My allergies do not act up when I am asleep. It is only after I am awake in the morning and even if I am lying in bed(not moving around, not creating dust) the allergy attck occurs and soon I am sneezing away to kingdom come until of course I get up and get my Allegra. It must be something to do with the mind’s sympathetic system or something that is more reactive when concious and awake than when asleep. I was hoping a doctor doper could tell.