Is the number of times someone sneezes genetic?

[Photic]

This is something I have wondered about for the longest time. I know a lot of people on here don't like talking about family sneezing which is understandable but I am curious how many people sneeze the same number of times as their mother or father. Also if you have siblings do they sneeze the same number of times that you do? Or if you have kids do they have the same number of sneezes as you or your partner? For example I have noticed that in most cases people with rapid fire machine gun sneezes have a relative that sneezes in that same manner. My mother is a double sneezer but my father was a single sneezer... and in most cases I am a single sneezer but I do a double sneeze on occasion. 

[Heathcliff]

I find this subject very interesting too. How much any aspect of sneezing is genetic- how "sneezy" a person is, the loudness of the sneeze, and so on.

I think I read somewhere that "sneeze number" is thought to be genetic, but that was a long time ago and I can't remember where. Family sneezing is not the most pleasant topic but it makes sense to cover it. My parents both sneeze in singles- both tend to sneeze one loud sneeze, and then be done. I sneeze the same way, except at odd times when I have a fit (I'm not quite sure what triggers it but either alcohol or illness) where I sneeze repeatedly, but not rapidly, until my nose gets tired (that's the best way I can put it).

[I love Alan Rickman]

I personally think it’s more about who you spend time with and relate to best, which is family for a lot of people. I used to sneeze like my family, but then I met my best friend, and now my sneeze is more like hers. All my siblings are older than me and either about to move out or have moved out, and my parents aren’t the most emotionally supportive people in the world, so when I spend time with them, I’m not really relating much to them. But when I spend time with my best friend (who is also my role model), we relate a ton (and even have some unlikely similarities which are quite cool) and have a great time. We also feel like we’ve known each other forever, but we’ve only known each other personally for about two and a half years now.

That’s just my take on it, and I’m curious if anyone else has had similar experiences 

Edited June 16, 2019 by I love Alan Rickman

[Heathcliff]

As a sneeze is an involuntary response I don't believe it could be influenced by who you spend time with. Of course, you could attempt to change your sneeze with effort- to stifle more, etc. But that's not the same.

With respect, I just think you are not right, I Love Alan Rickman.

Edited June 16, 2019 by Heathcliff

[Photic]

On 6/16/2019 at 7:30 AM, Heathcliff said:

I find this subject very interesting too. How much any aspect of sneezing is genetic- how "sneezy" a person is, the loudness of the sneeze, and so on.

I think I read somewhere that "sneeze number" is thought to be genetic, but that was a long time ago and I can't remember where. Family sneezing is not the most pleasant topic but it makes sense to cover it. My parents both sneeze in singles- both tend to sneeze one loud sneeze, and then be done. I sneeze the same way, except at odd times when I have a fit (I'm not quite sure what triggers it but either alcohol or illness) where I sneeze repeatedly, but not rapidly, until my nose gets tired (that's the best way I can put it).

I have tried to do research on the topic. But everything I find always tends to say a person just sneezes until their nose is clear. Yet this is clearly not the case because you can see in many inducing vids a person will sneeze multiple times even though they're no longer inducing. In other cases they only sneeze once though. I feel like more research is needed in this area. I would be happy to conduct that research. lol

[iojo]

I've wondered about this a lot myself. I think it is genetic.

[Heathcliff]

15 hours ago, Photic said:

I have tried to do research on the topic. But everything I find always tends to say a person just sneezes until their nose is clear. 

I agree that this seems too simple an explanation. I don't think "sneeze number" is hardwired exactly, and will vary depending on the cause (if someone's having an allergy attack, they may sneeze and sneeze many times- though I think, not usually in quick succession).

Thinking about guys in my workplace, most sneeze just once. One guy sneezes either once or twice when he sneezes- I've never heard him sneeze in a three.

My boss tends to sneeze 3, 4 or 5 times when he sneezes. I have heard him comment as a joke "It's never just one!" which is evidence for this I suppose. If it was a matter of his nose being "clear", surely sometimes one sneeze would be enough?

Good topic, by the way.

Edited June 20, 2019 by Heathcliff

[Victoria]

I've thought about this before, too.

I'm more like my mom than my dad.  Single, double at most, normally.  Recently her pattern has changed though, because of more allergies, and sinus issues, but it was very consistent when I was growing up.  My dad was always multiples and they were really spaced out, which made it annoying and uncomfortable. 

It's a great question; thanks for posting.

[peach]

I've never thought it could be genetic. Doesn't it depends on the physiological nose features, allergies, sensitivity and stuff?.. 

My dad sneezes in multiples (ugh kill me plz), my mom is a single sneezer, but very loud (whyyy gawd whyy?!).

I'm generally a single sneezer, but sometimes I sneeze twice. If it's genetically inherited from my mom, well, she would be happy, because I look, think and behave exactly like my dad. I don't even look like my mom 😅

[Photic]

On 6/21/2019 at 2:20 PM, peach_princess said:

I've never thought it could be genetic. Doesn't it depends on the physiological nose features, allergies, sensitivity and stuff?.. 

Yes allergies definitely make people sneeze more on average but I am referring to general every day non-allergy sneezing. Although another thing I have noticed is that people with bad allergies tend to be double or triple sneezers even when they're not having allergy issues. As for nose features that would also be genetic, sensitivity could be as well. 

[slsabm]

It makes me shudder to think about this, but both of my parents are multiple sneezers. My mum has tons of allergies to things and so do my brother and I. My brother and I are also very similar in that we are both pretty sneezy people but once in a while we get a weird “allergy day” where we have worse than usual allergies for 12-24 hours including pretty much non stop sneezing, runny nose, etc. So I would be in the “yes” camp. 

[Sawdust]

I would assume its genetic. I know a family where they have long drawn out fits. They joke its the -insert last name here- sneeze. They all sneeze the same.