# Why two sneezes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296 "2000-10-17T19:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/1 "2000-10-17T19:16:46Z")
I always sneeze in twos. I was wondering why that is? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/2 "2000-10-17T19:23:52Z")
Funny. So do I, but my wife said I was a feak so I didn’t give it any thought. 🙂 Eric ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/3 "2000-10-17T19:25:01Z")
And if you don’t know what a “feak” is, I will tell you. Its some idiot that can’t spell “Freak”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/4 "2000-10-17T19:26:41Z")
I do that too, espesially with a “sun tickle” sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Delta-9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/5 "2000-10-17T19:53:46Z")
Hell, sometimes I’m good for four or five in a row. Do I win a prize or sumpthin? ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/6 "2000-10-17T19:54:30Z")
I happen to sneeze in triplets. Either three times or some multiple of three. Needless to say, if I REALLY have to sneeze it gets pretty tiresome after 9 or 12 times :(. ---
**Author:** ![Delta-9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/7 "2000-10-17T20:03:04Z")
And people, don’t EVER hold back a sneeze. Sooner or later your brain starts to leak out of your ears. It ain’t pretty. Trust me on this one. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/8 "2000-10-17T20:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Delta-9 \* > \*\*And people, don’t EVER hold back a sneeze. Sooner or later your brain starts to leak out of your ears. > > It ain’t pretty. Trust me on this one. \*\* Of course! Also don’t try to keep your eyes open, lest they pop out of your head and fall on your cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/9 "2000-10-18T03:41:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ivar \* > I do that too, espesially with a “sun tickle” sneeze. It’s in yer genes (most likely): Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio Ophthalmic Outburst (Achoo) Syndrome aka Photic Sneeze Reflex. See [Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man](http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Omim/dispmim?100820). As far as everyone else’s sneezes - don’t know…and use a kleenex, fer gosh sake’s! ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/10 "2000-10-18T05:43:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by troub \* > > Of course! Also don’t try to keep your eyes open, lest they pop out of your head and fall on your cheeks. I’ve always been told that keeping your eyes open when sneezing is impossible, due to a reflex that clamps the lids down over the tear ducts. This prevents reflux of sinus material and keeps it out of the eyes. So obviously, if you forced your eyes to stay open while sneezing, you’d _deserve_ to have them popped out. Just make sure they go back in the right sockets. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/11 "2000-10-18T05:49:30Z")
twos? threes? When I start sneezing I generally go into a fairly long series (at least a dozen) and end up with a runny nose. I have wondered if it is the runny nose that causes the sneezing to stop or if it would stop anyway. Such sneezing fits are awkward if I am in public but I have to say I enjoy them if I am on my own. A sneeze _is_ sorta like a mini-orgasm. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-two-sneezes/37296/12 "2000-10-18T05:51:47Z")
I have wondered this myself. My father, I am not kidding you, will sneeze anywhere from 8-12 times in a row. In addition to that he makes the “whoohoo” noise after each sneeze. My sis-in-law does the same thing but not as many sneezes about 4-5 in a row. On a side note, sneezes can feel so good, assuming your nose isn’t tickeling too much.