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Why does sneezing happen? -

Sneezing happens when your body notices something in your nose that shouldn't be there. This is usually pollen, dust, bacteria, dirt, or smoke. 

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Why does sneezing happen? -

Sneezing stops you from getting ill or injured by the things that enter your nose. 

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What happens when we sneeze? -

When foreign particles enter your nose, they may interact with the tiny hairs and delicate skin that line the nasal passage. 

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Electrical signals -

When the lining of the nose experiences a foreign substance, it sends an electrical signal to the brain telling it to clear the nose.

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Preparation -

When the brain tells the body it's time to sneeze, the body prepares itself for the contraction in just a few seconds. The tongue moves to the roof of the mouth, the muscles brace, and the eyes are forced shut. 

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Lift off! -

Sneezing forces water, mucus, and air from the nose at up to 160 km/h (99.4 mph). The ejection lasts for just 150 milliseconds.

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Reset -

In 2012, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania discovered that sneezing "resets" the cilia, the cells that line the tissue inside the nose. 

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Nasal issues -

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that sneezing doesn't have the same "reset" effect on people with sinusitis or other chronic nasal issues.

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The power of a sneeze -

When you sneeze, your body produces pressure in the respiratory system, which includes the sinuses, nasal cavity, throat, and lungs.

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The power of a sneeze -

In a 2016 study, scientists measured a pressure level of 1 pound-force per square inch (1 psi or 6894.76 Pa) in a woman's windpipe when sneezing.

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The dangers of holding in a sneeze -

Crowded places or situations where sneezing seems ill-timed may make it tempting to suppress it, though this can be detrimental to your health.

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Intense pressure -

Suppressing a sneeze can increase pressure within the respiratory system to levels five to 24 times higher than those caused by the sneeze itself. This elevated pressure can potentially lead to various injuries.

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Ruptured eardrum -

When you hold in the high pressure that builds in the respiratory system before a sneeze, some of the air is sent into the ears. 

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Ruptured eardrum -

The pressure in the ears can cause the eardrum(s) to rupture and cause hearing loss. Most ruptured eardrums heal without treatment, though in some cases, surgery is needed.

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Middle ear infection -

By holding in a sneeze, the redirection of air back into the ears from the nasal passages could carry bacteria to the middle ear, causing an infection.

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Middle ear infection -

Middle ear infections are painful. Often, antibiotics are required to treat them, but they can clear up without treatment.

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Damaged blood vessels -

While rare, the increased pressure caused by suppressing a sneeze can damage blood vessels in the eyes, nose, or eardrums.

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Diaphragm injury -

While diaphragm injuries are rare, there have been cases of pressurized air becoming trapped in the diaphragm and collapsing the lungs in people trying to suppress their sneezes.

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Diaphragm injury -

A collapsed lung caused by suppressed sneezes is a life-threatening injury that requires immediate hospitalization.

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Brain aneurysm -

The pressure from holding in a sneeze can even lead to a brain aneurysm. This is a life-threatening injury that can lead to bleeding around the brain.

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Throat damage -

While rare, there is at least one case of a person rupturing the back of their throat by holding in a sneeze. This is a serious injury that required immediate medical attention.

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Broken ribs -

Suppressing a sneeze can cause high-pressure air to be forced into your lungs and cause a rib to break.

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Can holding in a sneeze cause a heart attack? -

Sneezing may temporarily affect your heart rate, but it shouldn't cause your heart to stop.

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Can you die from holding in a sneeze? -

While there haven't been reports of people directly dying from holding in a sneeze, some injuries from sneeze suppression, such as ruptured brain aneurysms and collapsed lungs, can be life-threatening.

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How to prevent a sneeze without holding it in -

If you feel a sneeze coming on and want to stop it, blowing your nose, treating allergies, and avoiding looking directly into lights can prevent sneezes. Some say saying the word "pickles" can distract you from sneezing!

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How to treat sneezing -

Some people are more sensitive to airborne irritants and will sneeze more than others. You can treat your sneezing without holding it in by avoiding things that cause you to sneeze.

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Let your body sneeze when it needs to -

In most cases, holding in a sneeze won't do much more than cause a headache or pop your eardrums. However, in some cases, it can severely damage your body. It's best to let your body sneeze when it needs to.

Sources: (Healthline) (The Sun)

See also: Common plants and trees that trigger allergies

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