It was believed that your heart stopped when you sneezed, so people would say “God Bless You”.
Dr. Richard Conti, past president of the American College of Cardiology, says that during a sneeze, the heart actually “skips a beat“ rather than stopping. When there is a prolonged delay before the heart’s next beat, that next beat is then felt as more forceful and noticeable (Ray, 1992).
Other possible ideas for people saying, “God bless you,” after someone sneezes
Another idea is that “God Bless You!” began in Rome when the plague was raging through Europe. One of the symptoms of the plague was sneezing, and it is believed that Pope Gregory the Great suggested saying “God bless you” after a person sneezed in hopes that this prayer would protect them from death by the plague.
Sneeze responses from around the world:
English – “Bless you” or “God bless you”
German – “Gesundheit”
Greeks and Romans – “Banish the Omen”
Hindu – “Live” and responds “With you”
Zulu – “I am now blessed”
Interesting facts about sneezes:
- Sneezes are an automatic reflex that can’t be stopped once sneezing starts.
- Sneezes can travel at a speed of 100 miles per hour and the wet spray can radiate five feet. 😲
- People don’t sneeze when they are asleep because the nerves involved in nerve reflexes are also resting.
- Between 18 and 35% of the population sneezes when exposed to sudden bright light.
- Some people sneeze when plucking their eyebrows because the nerve endings in the face are irritated and then fire an impulse that reaches the nasal nerve.
For more fun information about sneezing:
Neat!
Thank you!
Bless you!