It has been revealed that it is possible to sneeze with your eyes open - and also how fast a sneeze can come out of your nose.
You know that old wives' tale that reckons you can't sneeze with your eyes open because the force of it would make your eyes pop out?
You must remember - you most likely heard it on the playground from some know-it-all kid and you had nightmares for weeks about your eyes shooting out your skull?!
Well, it turns out that's a load of rubbish, according to a study commissioned by Olbas.
WATCH: Holly's hilarious non-sneeze on This Morning nearly messes up the show!
GP Dr Roger Henderson has answered the most commonly asked questions about sneezing, and revealed that it is actually physically possible to sneeze with your eyes open.
He said: "The sneeze reflex involves the contraction of a number of different muscles and muscle groups throughout the body, typically including the eyelids.
"But the common belief that it is impossible to sneeze with one's eyes open is inaccurate, although most of us do shut our eyes. Don’t worry, if they stay open nothing unusual happens!"
He also revealed that the average sneeze can be up to around 100mph - almost as fast as the average train!
The GP added that the feeling of a blocked nose is down to inflamed nasal passages as the body’s immune system attempts to fight off the virus.
The inflammation then cleverly signifies where the immune cells need to be so that they can physically destroy and mop up the virus particles.
And snot is the result of the nasal blood vessels swelling. Lovely stuff.
He also said that the best ways to stop a sneeze are deep breathing, holding your breath while counting to ten, or gently pinching the bridge of the nose for several seconds.
The doctor issued some advice: "Anyone can catch a cold - but the best ways to avoid it are washing your hands with warm water and soap, and not sharing towels or household items, like cups, with someone who has a cold.
"You should also avoid touching your eyes or nose in case you’ve come into contact with the virus - it can infect the body this way – and staying fit and healthy, including having good nutrition and enough sleep, can certainly help to decrease your chances."
**Do you have any sure-fire ways to stop yourself from developing a cold? Let us know over on **Facebook and Twitter.
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NOW READ: Abigail James' 7 top tips for keeping your skin healthy in winter
Abigail James' top 7 tips for healthy skin in winter
1 of 71. Say goodbye to unnecessary chemicals
"Some fragrances and colours are skin irritants and have no actual benefits for the skin - they simply look and smell nice. "According to the research almost two thirds of British women are concerned about the chemicals in their personal care products so my advice would be to avoid unnecessary chemical ingredients and look for shower gels and deodorants that are kinder to skin - such as the Sanex Zero% range which is formulated with 0% colourants, 0% soap and 0% parabens."
2 of 72. Avoid low fat diets
"When it comes to holistic health, achieving a healthy balance is really important. Choose healthy fats for healthy cell function – this can be added into your diet through foods such as avocadoes, fish, nuts and seeds and plant oils such as flax and hemp. "Another tip is to ditch the processed margarines. If you're going to have butter then make it organic natural butter which has less synthetic ingredients."
3 of 73. Try light exercise
"Getting up and moving daily will boost circulation, and getting your muscles moving will increase your levels of 'happy' hormones or endorphins and blood flow. This in turn will give your skin a lovely healthy glow. "It doesn't matter whether it's a light stroll or training at the gym, as long as you're moving your skin will feel the benefits."
4 of 74. Get an early night
"Lack of sleep increases the visible appearance of ageing, such as dark circles caused by sluggish circulation. "With that in mind say goodbye to your phone or tablet at least an hour before going to bed and try to get a good night's sleep – your skin will thank you for it."
5 of 75. Reduce sugar intake
"A high intake of sugar can cause an inflammatory reaction within the skin resulting in a whole host of skin conditions, from acne and rosacea to premature ageing and dry skin. "A little treat every now and then won't hurt, but try to keep an eye on your sugar levels if you're looking to keep skin healthy."
6 of 76. Curb the caffeine
"Too much coffee or caffeinated drinks can put extra stress on the liver and digestive system which impacts your body's natural detoxification process. "This build-up of toxins can have a negative effect on the health of your skin causing issues such as dry skin, redness and sensitivity."
7 of 77. Skincare shouldn't stop at your face
"There can often be a temptation to focus on the health of the skin on our faces but we must remember that the whole body is covered in skin which is the largest organ of your body – so we need to make sure we are giving it the care it deserves."Our skin absorbs a percentage of the products we apply, so choose products that are gentle on skin with natural moisturisers."