Many people try to contain or stifle a sneeze by holding their nose or closing their mouth in public places. According to scientists, this is a bad habit that might have serious consequences for your health.
A patient was admitted to the emergency room following blocking a sneeze
Holding back a sneeze can be dangerous : “Blocking a sneeze by blocking your nose and closing your mouth is a dangerous gesture that should be avoided said the researchers from the University Hospital of Leicester, UK, in their study published in the British Medical Journal. The latter evoke the case of a 34-year-old man, admitted to the emergency room following blocking a sneeze.
The 30-year-old reportedly felt a cracking sensation in his neck following suppressing a sneeze by pinching his nose and closing his mouth. When he arrived at the hospital, he had lost his voice, was swallowing hard, had a swollen neck and was in almost excruciating pain.
A tear in the back of her throat
While examining the patient, doctors heard crackling sounds between his neck and rib cage. They deduced that air bubbles had entered the deep tissue and muscles of his chest. This diagnosis was confirmed following a CT scan. According to scientists, the air pressure caused by suppressing the sneeze caused a tear in the back of his throat.
As he struggled to feed himself, the 30-year-old was fed through a tube and treated with intravenous antibiotics for a week. The pain only disappeared following this time.
The study authors note that this is a rare case. However, blocking a sneeze remains dangerous, as it can cause perforation of the eardrums, lung problems or even a ruptured aneurysm in the brain, which can cause the death of the individual. . They advise to get rid of this bad habit to avoid injury.
