Why do people say "Bless you" when you sneeze, but nothing if you cough?
115663
Ancient man believed that his breath was also his soul or "essence of life." When God made man, he "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." A rapid departure of that breath--a sneeze--is the same as expelling life from one's body. Also, it leaves a vacuum in the head which evil spirits can enter. Roman citizens feared sneezing when a plague hit their city during the reign of Pope Gregory the Great. Since they regarded the sneeze as a sure sign of approaching sickness, Pope Gregory in situated the use of the phrase "God bless you" to shield sneezers from any ill effects.
707980
One traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (AD 540-604) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the bubonic plague in AD 590 (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague, Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's blessing. When someone sneezed (seen as the initial onset of the plague), they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not actually develop the disease.\n\n\nSuperstition\nOther explanations are based on superstitions and urban legends about sneezing and what a sneeze entails. Some well known superstitions that may have contributed to bringing "bless you" into common use are:\n\nThe heart stops when you sneeze (it doesn't), and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating. \nA sneeze is the expulsion of some sort of evil, and the phrase is meant to ward off the evil's re-entry. \nYour soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, and saying "bless you" prevents your soul from being stolen by Satan or some evil spirit. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil. \nA sneeze is good luck and saying "bless you" is no more than recognition of the sneezer's luckiness. \nAlternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that wasn't well understood at the time.
182011
Wikipedia has a pretty clear answer:\n\nGesundheit is the German word for health. When a person sneezes, Germans typically say Gesundheit! to wish them good health. This expression has found its way into the English language ... in the early twentieth century.\n\nCheck out the wiki, it has additional information.
151426
The custom of saying "God bless you" after a sneeze was begun literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague (his successor succumbed to it). Gregory (who also invented the ever-popular Gregorian chant) called for litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's help and intercession. Columns marched through the streets chanting, "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy"). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague. All that prayer apparently worked, judging by how quickly the plague of 590 AD diminished. \n\nThe connection of sneezing to the plague is not the first association of sneezing with death. According to Man, Myth, and Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion and the Unknown, many cultures, even some in Europe, believe that sneezing expels the soul--the "breath of life"--from the body.  That doesn't seem too far-fetched when you realize that sneezing can send tiny particles speeding out of your nose at up to 100 miles per hour! \n\nWe know today, of course, that when you sneeze, your heart doesn't stop, nor will your eyes pop out if you can keep them open (www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_30 4.html), nor does your soul get expelled. What does get expelled are hundreds upon thousands of microscopic germs. The current advice when you sneeze is to cover your mouth with your arm rather than your hand. That way, all those germs won't be on your hands when you touch the countless things you're going to touch in the course of the day (don't tell us; we don't want to know). \n\nThere are many superstitions regarding sneezing, some of which you've already listed. But here are some of my favorites. \n\nSneeze on Monday for health,\nSneeze on Tuesday for wealth,\nSneeze on Wednesday for a letter, \nSneeze on Thursday for something better,\nSneeze on Friday for sorrow,\nSneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,\nSneeze on Sunday, safety seek. \n\nOne for sorrow\nTwo for joy\nThree for a letter\nFour for a boy.\nFive for silver\nSix for gold\nSeven for a secret, never to be told. \n\nAnd lastly, a sneeze before breakfast is a sign that you will hear exciting news before the end of the day.
706510
not sure what you mean?    you would want to take it after any other medications taken with a drink, or after eating or drinking, so it coats your throat,,,,  if you mean resisting giving something to help a cough, it could be because in many illnesses, where you are coughing, it is clearing your lungs, and its best to cough,, if you dont cough, you lungs can fill up with mucus.  though you dont want to cough so much that a sore throat sets you up for throat infections
880119
hundreds of years ago people thought that when you sneezed you were sneezing the devil out of you or something along those lines... hence why people say "bless you" i hope that i have helped ...
461348
Yes, that is why people say "God bless you" after you sneeze.
98543
Some people can sneeze with their eyes open and some people can’t. Sneezing is a reflex and so is closing our eyes. We have no control over whether or not we close our eyes when we sneeze. Some people don’t have reflex, so when they sneeze then their eyes won’t close. Some people try to close their eyes so when they sneeze their eyes won’t pop out. Your eyes don’t really pop out. People without the reflex to sneeze with their eyes open can try to train themselves to sneeze with their eyes open. One good way to do this is if when you sneeze you hold your eyes open.\n\n    People think that when you close your eyes when you sneeze that you are blocking germs and bacteria. That is not true because your eyes deal with germs all the time. If you close your eyes during a sneeze, then it is just a reflex. During this part of the sneeze, we tense some of our muscles. The tensing (tightening) of our muscles causes our eyes to shut.\n\n    People that sneeze a lot can prevent sneezing. If you feel a sneeze, then use saline solution. You can also softly hold your nose at the end. These things can help your body remove things it does not want without sneezing.\n\n    No one knows the reason you close your eyes when you sneeze. There are many possibilities. Some people think it is to protect your eyes from flying goop. Most doctors think that it is still a reflex, or we just can’t help it.\n\n    Sneezing is very good for you and your body because it removes things from your body like bacteria and germs. It also is good because it keeps the tubes that carry the air from your nose to the lungs healthy. Sneezing makes your nose clear when you have a cold. If you used to hate sneezing, then I hope this has changed your mind.
1086864
I recall reading that waaaay back when...sneezing was a "sign" that one had evil spirits or the devil in them.  Blessing them was to try and help them.  I've never heard of someone be blessed for coughing, though.
935672
Say 'Bless you' after someone sneezes. It's supposed to keep the devil at bay. If the Devil doesn't materialise then you'll know it worked.
970529
Other explanations are based on superstitions and urban legends about sneezing and what a sneeze entails. Some well known superstitions that may have contributed to bringing "bless you" into common use are:\n\nThe heart stops when you sneeze (it doesn't), and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating. \nA sneeze is the expulsion of some sort of evil, and the phrase is meant to ward off the evil's re-entry. \nYour soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, and saying "bless you" prevents your soul from being stolen by Satan or some evil spirit. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil. \nA sneeze is good luck and saying "bless you" is no more than recognition of the sneezer's luckiness. \nAlternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that wasn't well understood at the time.\n\nAnother urban legend states that you cannot open your eyes while you sneeze, or if you manage to your eyes will pop out. Both of the statements are untrue.
309689
it helps prevent (doesnt completely block) the germs from flying over the entire room or onto other people around you, but do know that if you dont wash your hands right after sneezing you are spreading the germs that are then on your hand.  it is reccomended to sneeze into a tissue or a handkerchief to prevent the spreading of germs.
45796
The word is "gesundheit", which can be literally translated to "health".  In other words, you're wishing the person good health when you say it.\n\nI don't know why Americans choose to say that word instead of other ones.\n\nJust for fun, Spanish speakers usually say "salud" when someone sneezes (also meaning "health").  If someone sneezes more than once they say these words (two of them for two sneezes, three of them for three sneezes) : salud, dinero, y amor ("health, money, and love").  I personally find it fascinating that money is closer than love to the top of the list.
538672
due to the sudden jerk you get while you sneeze, you automatically make you body tight and then suddenly it becomes loose. thus the blood pressure increases. \nSometimes people feely giddy due to a sudden and big sneeze. this is because, the brain cannot coincide with the blood pressure. thus it happens. but remember this is all just for quite a fraction of a second. \n\nHope it was clear enough.
397425
In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.
1008079
Because the pressure of the sneeze, you close your eyes. You can't control them because its something the body controls. Try holding your nose or biting your tongue though if you're about to sneeze. Then you don't.
211862
I dont agree with the question to begin. It doest necessarily have to occur like this. Ive heard a lot of people sneeze and not everyone sneezes after them.