What can Happen if You Hold in a Sneeze?
Sneezing is one of the most relieving processes the body generates in reaction to a pollutant or allergen.
But sometimes the body generates this in the most inconvenient times, like when you absolutely need to be serious or quiet.
You must have heard stories that left you wondering what can happen when you are in a sneeze.
Before we explore the consequences of holding back a sneeze, let’s delve into the science behind it.
Sneezing creates pressure in the respiratory system, that is, the sinuses, nasal cavity, and down the throat into your lungs. When you hold in a sneeze, it could increase pressure to about 5 – 24 times more than a normal sneeze.
What can Happen if You Hold in a Sneeze?
While the chances of serious injuries are slim, they still cannot be ruled out, and some of them are:
- Ruptured Eardrum:
Holding in a sneeze may sometimes channel the pressure from your respiratory system into your ears, causing your eardrums to rupture. This rupture may increase the risks of an ear infection and could also lead to hearing loss, severe pain, vertigo, and dizziness.
Most times, ruptured eardrums heal on their own in a few weeks, typically 2-3 months. However, more severe ruptures may need surgery and require a longer time to heal, up to several months.
- Redness Around the Eyes and nosebleeds
Alongside your ears, your eyes and nose may also be affected, but rarely. Increased pressure in the facial tissues may cause redness in the eyes. Being held under pressure may also trigger a nosebleed, especially if you are prone to one. Redness in your eyes should subside quickly, and so should your nosebleed.
- Throat Damage:
The throat is part of the respiratory system and cannot be exempt from the consequences of holding in a sneeze. Misdirected pressure may lead to a rupture in the pharynx, which requires immediate medical attention.
This case is extremely rare, and there has only been one recorded person in history. Generally, you are more likely to experience throat and neck pain for a few days before it resolves on its own.
- Middle Ear Infection
Sneezing typically helps to relieve the body of allergens, irritants, and germs that are harmful to the body. However, holding in a sneeze means the prolonged presence of these toxic substances.
Furthermore, sometimes, these irritants may be pushed back into the ear, potentially leading to an infection. These may go away without treatment, but in more severe cases, you may need to be treated with an antibiotic or other drugs to get rid of this infection.
- Diaphragm Injury:
The diaphragm is the part of the respiratory system that helps with breathing. Pressurized air may be pushed into the diaphragm, leading to a collapse of the lungs, which is an extremely rare worst-case scenario. However, you are more likely to experience rib or chest pain.
- Aneurysm Rupture:
The sudden increase in pressure could potentially lead to the rupture of an existing aneurysm in the brain, which can be life-threatening. Rupturing this may lead to fatal consequences like bleeding in the skull if medical attention is not taken immediately.
In summary, the effects above are rare, and death from sneezing is even rarer or almost non-existent. Holding in a sneeze in most cases may only lead to a worsening of underlying issues like a brain aneurysm, for instance.
So, rather than hold your sneeze, find more hygienic ways to channel it out. Turn your face away from others, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or sneeze into the crook of your elbows to prevent spreading germs.
You can go a step further by washing your hands.
