It is not an uncommon or unusual scenario to hold our sneeze especially when we are in a quiet place. Most of us hold our sneeze by pinching our noses to not seem rude to the people around us and think nothing of it. Do I see you nodding your head? Well, it turns out this action could result in a serious injury.
A 34-year-old British man discovered it the hard way after he stopped a sneeze by holding his nose and closing his mouth. However, soon after he experienced excruciating pain and was barely able to speak or swallow.
He was rushed to the A&E department and found that in his attempt to stifle his sneeze, he blasted a hole through the back of his throat.
His injury was so serious that doctors had to keep him in the hospital for a week and had to be fed through a tube.
The doctors who were treating him described him as completely fit and normal until after the sneeze. They told DailyMail,
“He described a popping sensation in his neck and some neck swelling after he tried to halt a sneeze by pinching the nose and holding his mouth closed.”
Specialists from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust also commented on the matter and said that this manoeuvre should be avoided as it can cause some serious damage. These could include air trapped in the chest between the lungs, perforated eardrum and potential fatal bursting of blood vessels in the brain.
When doctors examined him, they heard crackling sounds which extended from his neck all the way down to his ribcage. This was a sign that air bubbles had found their way into the deep tissue and muscles of his chest.
Doctors have warned him against using this tactic as the explosive internal forces of a sneeze could kill him.
So, the next time you get an urge to stifle a sneeze, just let it rip. A few minutes of embarrassment is definitely better than being fed by a tube, or worse.