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Why don’t we sneeze when we are asleep?

Our readers don’t agree with this statement, and even broaden out their evidence base to their furry companions
A woman falls asleep in a deckchair during the sunny weather on Blackpool beach, in Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, Circa 1985. (Photo by Bryn Colton/Getty Images)
Bryn Colton/Getty Images

Herman D’Hondt
Sydney, Australia

The statement is wrong, at least for me: I regularly sneeze while I am asleep. However, the sneeze wakes me up instantly. This happens perhaps once a week, but only once in any night, usually about 10 to 15 minutes after I fall asleep. Then I just have to blow my nose, turn over and I’m asle­ep again in a few minutes.

I have seen my cat sneeze without waking up, but of course cats are very determined sleepers

Carol Stevenson
London, UK

In hay fever season, I am often woken by a sneeze, so it must have started when I was asleep. Also, I have seen my cat sneeze without waking up, but of course cats are very determined sleepers.

So I think we can sneeze when we are asleep, and if it doesn’t wake us up, then we aren’t aware of it.

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