How Fast Are Sneezes?

Sneezes can travel 300 miles an hour (about 483 km/hr) or faster, and one sneeze can release as many as 40,000 infectious droplets with a spray radius of about 5 feet (1.52 m). Although much of this comes out of the nose, people tend to sneeze with their mouths at least partially open, too, so a considerable amount of air and droplets comes out of the mouth.

More facts about sneezes:

• Sneezes usually are caused by something stimulating the membranes inside the nose, but they can also be caused by an infection, a sudden exposure to light — called a photo sneeze reflex — having sex, working out and even the sensation of fullness after a very large meal, which is called snatiation.


• Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to sneeze with your eyes open, and your heart does not stop when you sneeze.


• The sneeziest animal is the iguana, which also releases the most material per sneeze.