What Holding In Your Sneeze Does To Eyes, Ears And Blood Vessels

Sneezing is a common phenomenon. It is a mechanism that our body uses to clear the nose. When foreign matter such as dirt, pollen, smoke, or dust enters the nostrils, the nose becomes irritated or tickled. When this happens, our body does what it needs to do to clear the nose- it causes a sneeze. It is one of our body’s first defences against invading bacteria and bugs.

Sneezing is very common during a cold or cough. It is not a disease, not even a symptom of any disease. It is a natural process of removing unwanted substances from our noses. As per reports, the air pressure during sneezing is 30 times higher than the pressure during a deep breath we take during exercises.

Sneezing creates pressure in the internal airways which is followed by contractions of the diaphragm and rib muscles. After this, the eyes are automatically closed, and the breath comes out of the nose very quickly with full pressure. The maximum pressure of the air coming from inside falls on the nose. During this time, our tongue moves upwards in the mouth. But the sound of sneezing comes out only when the tongue touches the upper part of the mouth. We get more sneezes during the winter. However, most people try to stop sneezing when they are out in a public place. Most people feel that the sound is a bit weird, and they feel embraced.

Some people try to stop the sneezing by applying various tricks like pulling the ears, putting the tongue between the teeth and touching the nose. All of these techniques stimulate the trigeminal sensory nerve. It stops signals of discomfort from reaching the brain. Thus, the process of sneezing also stops. But do you know that stopping the sneeze by following these tricks is harmful to our health?

As per reports, when one tries to stop their sneeze, the air pressure created at that time goes to other places in the body. It puts extra pressure on the eyes, ears and blood vessels which is considered to be very harmful for the body. So, as per experts, one should not try to stop sneezing. Instead, steps should be taken to prevent allergens or unwanted substances that cause sneezing from entering the nose. When there is dust, it is suggested to keep a handkerchief across the nose or wear a mask.