The Dangers of Holding Back a Sneeze: Why You Should Let It Out

Have you ever felt the urge to sneeze but then fought to hold it back? While it might seem more polite, holding back a sneeze can actually be dangerous for your health.

Sneezing is a natural bodily reaction designed to expel irritants from your nose. When you sneeze, air is forced out of your nose at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour! The pressure generated by a sneeze can reach 1 psi, higher than the pressure created when you breathe heavily during exercise.

Why Holding Back a Sneeze is Dangerous

Holding back a sneeze increases pressure inside your body several times over, potentially leading to a variety of health complications. The forceful pressure can travel to other areas of the body, causing a range of problems, some of which are serious and even life-threatening.

Here are some of the potential risks associated with holding back a sneeze:

1. Eardrum rupture: The trapped pressure from a sneeze can travel to your middle ear through the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat. This can cause the eardrum to rupture, and even lead to hearing loss.
2. Middle ear infection: Sneezing helps clear out your nose, including bacteria. Holding back a sneeze can actually allow bacteria to enter your middle ear through the Eustachian tube, resulting in a middle ear infection.
3. Blood vessel damage in the eyes, nose, or eardrum: Although rare, holding back a sneeze could cause blood vessels in your eyes, nose, or eardrum to rupture.
4. Diaphragm injury: Your diaphragm is the primary muscle that helps you breathe. The trapped pressure from a sneeze can injure your diaphragm, potentially even becoming life-threatening.
5. Brain injury: The high pressure can cause a brain aneurysm to rupture, leading to bleeding around the brain.
6. Throat damage: Holding back a sneeze can cause damage to the back of your throat.
7. Broken ribs: The forceful pressure from a sneeze can result in broken ribs, especially in older adults.

Considering the range of potential complications, it's best to let the sneeze happen naturally. Sneezing is a powerful force, but it’s also a natural bodily function that serves a protective purpose. It’s better to let your body do its job and avoid the risks of holding it back.

Next time you feel a sneeze coming on, don’t try to hold it back. Just turn your head away from others, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, and let nature take its course. It’s much safer and healthier in the long run.