Although quite rare, some severe risks of holding in a sneeze include damage to the blood vessels, ruptured ear drums, hearing loss, or vertigo. Even though these complications are super unlikely, it's always a good idea to let your body do its thing: sneeze, yawn, hiccup, and use the bathroom when you gotta go.
Sneeze Hazards
“If you block the release of this pressure by trying to hold in the sneeze it can cause a rupture of your eardrums, irritation of the throat and, even in severe cases, rupture blood vessels in your eyes or brain.”
“If the sneeze is held in by pinching the nose or holding the mouth closed, this pressurized air is forced back through the Eustachian tube and into the middle ear cavity.” The risk of a hearing loss injury due to holding a sneeze is low. However, it is not impossible.
No, your heart does not stop when you sneeze.
When you sneeze, the intrathoracic pressure in your body momentarily increases. This will decrease the blood flow back to the heart. The heart compensates for this by changing its regular heart beat momentarily to adjust. However, the electrical activity of the heart does not stop during the sneeze.
David Huston, MD, associate dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine Houston campus and an allergist at Houston Methodist Hospital, said it is “absolutely possible” to sneeze without closing the eyes, but most people tend to automatically close their eyes when sneezing.
Where did achoo come from? This instance of onomatopoeia imitates the sound of sneezing. The first syllable mimics the quick intake of breath, while the second corresponds with the tone of the convulsive expulsion of air through the nose and mouth.
No one really knows where this myth originated from, but the Japanese have taken it one step further. They believe that sneezing once means someone is gossiping something nice about you. Twice means something not as nice. Thrice – gossip that's really, really not nice at all.
While that loud "Achoo!" may be embarrassing, it's actually a sign that your body is in healthy fighting mode.
A cough can travel as fast as 50 mph and expel almost 3,000 droplets in just one go. Sneezes win though—they can travel up to 100 mph and create upwards of 100,000 droplets.
The world record for the loudest sneeze is held by a man in China called Yi Yang whose nose explodes at a level of 176 decibels — louder than a jet engine and a gun shot — making mine seem demure and weak in comparison.
Why are sneezes so powerful? It's all about pressure. When you sneeze, your body produces pressure in your respiratory system. This includes your sinuses, nasal cavity, and down the throat into your lungs.
Although quite rare, some severe risks of holding in a sneeze include damage to the blood vessels, ruptured ear drums, hearing loss, or vertigo. Even though these complications are super unlikely, it's always a good idea to let your body do its thing: sneeze, yawn, hiccup, and use the bathroom when you gotta go.
If you do notice you sneeze more frequently, you may have an allergy that you are unaware of or inflammation of the nasal cavity called chronic rhinitis. It doesn't hurt to talk to your doctor about your sneezing habits if you think they are abnormal.
Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter; Sneeze on a Thursday, something better; Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow; Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow. Sneeze on a Sunday, and the devil will have domination over you all week.
The most likely culprit behind your sneezing fits is allergies. With seasonal allergies, airborne triggers, like pollen, are found in higher levels in the air and can start a sneezing fit. Besides seasonal allergies, allergens from pets and dust can also cause frequent sneezing and may be why you can't stop sneezing.
MYTH: All deaf people are mute. FACT: Some deaf people speak very well and clearly; others do not because their hearing loss prevented them from learning spoken language. Deafness usually has little effect on the vocal chords, and very few deaf people are truly mute.
There are numerous reasons why people choose to sneeze silently. The most common reasons involve a desire to be quiet or to not spread germs. “As we have all learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, the best option is to sneeze into your elbow,” said Dr. Gossett.
Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioopthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) Syndrome is characterized by uncontrollable sneezing in response to the sudden exposure to bright light, typically intense sunlight (1).
How sneezing is affected by the stages of sleep. It's thought that the reason you can't sneeze when you're asleep is because the nerves that help you sneeze are at rest during this time, too. This is particularly the case when you enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles.
While you're awake, blinking helps clear your eyes of dust or other particles that might get in your eye; blinking also lubricates your eyes to make sure they don't get dry or irritated. When you're asleep, though, you stop blinking, so keeping your eyes closed is the best way to also keep them safe.
So, the first sneeze likely breaks up the irritant, while the second brings it into the nose, and the third shoots it out. It's a progression needed to clear whatever is causing your mucous membranes to freak out.
A sneezing fit can last for a long time. The Guinness Book of World Records lists a sneezing fit lasting 976 days. Donna Griffiths set a new record for the lengthiest period of sneezing.