Finally, I have a syndrome

Yesterday Daughter-in-law was showing us the results of her ancestry DNA testing. As well as telling where her ancestors came from it also went through a load of genetic conditions. Which is where I learned that sun sneezing is a thing and, what's more, a thing that has a gene for it.

Daughter-in-law doesn't have that gene but I definitely do. So I can say that I have . . . wait for it . . . ACHOO syndrome.

That is autosomal dominant compulsive helio-opthalmic outbursts of sneezing.

I don't spend all of the time in the sun sneezing. The sun has to be just the right brightness or maybe angle to trigger it. But it's a definite thing. And, sadly, not unique to me.

It's also but less fascinatingly called photic sneezing. Apparently in some people it's triggered by eating mints or plucking eyebrows. (Huh, I don't think they're genuine!) But interestingly, as long ago as 350 BC Aristotle wrote about sun sneezing. He probably had more experience of it than us in Wales. The sun that is.

My syndrome, of course, means I'll never be able to be a Red Arrows pilot. Apart from that it doesn't affect my life unduly as long as I remember to cross my legs. The only possible problem would be if I needed eye surgery because, apparently, eye injections can set off the sneezing. I suspect if anyone approached my eye with a needle I would simply pass out anyway so maybe not too big a problem.