BLESS YOU
From ejected bowels to torn windpipes – all the horrifying ways sneezing can damage your body
There have also been instances of violent sneezing causing the lung to pop out between the ribs
WHAT do you think triggered someone's bowels to burst inside their body?
A stabbing perhaps? Or a horrible road-crushing accident?
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You probably couldn't even begin to imagine something as seemingly harmless as a sneeze could have caused such a horrific injury.
But that’s to a man in the US.
The 63-year-old, from Florida, recently underwent abdominal surgery and doctors claimed his incision had healed well.
But when he was at a diner having breakfast with his wife, he noticed a "wet" sensation followed by a sharp pain.
Read more on sneezing
He then lifted his shirt and saw several inches of his bowel hanging out of his stomach.
Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene and witnessed a three-inch opening with "large amounts of bowel" protruding through it.
He was rushed to the hospital, where surgeons successfully returned his bowel to his abdomen - but this all happened as a result of a sneeze.
A sneeze is a protective reflex made by your body to get rid of potentially harmful things – such as dust, bacteria and viruses - from your nose.
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And it can be pretty powerful, expelling tens of thousands of droplets at up to 100 miles per hour, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).
But with such great power, comes great risk.
GP-approved hay fever tips that really will stifle the sneezes
BRAIN INJURIES TO HEARING LOSS
For instance, causing the lungs to pop out .
But this usually only happens to those who are morbidly obese, smoke or have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or diabetes.
There are also reported cases of sneezing of the lungs.
But the lungs aren’t the only thing that can tear.
People have also been unlucky enough to tear .
Why you close your eyes when you sneeze
SNEEZES are involuntary.
Small particles like pollen or dust float up your nose and irritate your membrane, which triggers a whole series of reactions.
Your eyelids shut down as part of that reaction, but it's one of science’s big mysteries as to why.
Scientists think it is an involuntary response, a reflex, like when your leg jerks after being tapped on the knee.
It could be the body's way of protecting your eyes from the germs that get sneezed out of your nose.
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This can lead to a stroke which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Even if you don’t tear this lining, a sneeze can still affect the brain.
There have been reports of people suffering or following a sneeze.
There are case reports of people fracturing bones in the faces.
It's also possible to rupture your eardrum during a particularly powerful sneeze - which can cause hearing loss.
Doctors have reported dental implants dislodging themselves into from a powerful sneeze.
On a lighter note, sometimes a simple sneeze can cause muscle strain, which can trigger back pain.
DON'T HOLD IT IN
And for those trying to hold in a sneeze, the risks are just as ghastly.
One man tore a hole in his throat after he tried to stifle a bout of sneezing by pinching his nose and closing his mouth while driving.
The pressure from the sneeze was so great it tore a 0.08-inch hole in his windpipe and he had to rush to the hospital.
Others have , damaged their larynx (voice box) and torn the tissues in their chest that protect the lungs.
Ever been told holding in a sneeze might cause your eyes to pop out of your sockets? Well thankfully, this is just an old wive's tale.
Your eyes are strongly held in place by muscles and a nerve that keeps them in place.
In most cases, sneezing is perfectly safe.
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"Our body is well adapted to sneeze," Professor Adam Taylor from Lancaster University wrote in .
"So you probably don’t need to worry about suffering any injuries as many of these harms only happen in very rare circumstances."
How can I stop myself from sneezing?
Sneezing occurs when there is irritation in the mucus membranes of the nose and throat.
A sneeze is simply a sudden, forceful burst of air through the nose and mouth.
While it can be annoying, sneezing is rarely a sign of a serious problem. Here is what causes all those achoos:
- Allergies to pollen, mould, dander, and dust (hay fever)
- The common cold or flu
How can I stop sneezing?
1. Avoid exposure to whatever is causing the allergic reaction
- Change your furnace filters
- Don’t have pets in the house if you’re allergic to animal dander
- Travel to areas with low pollen counts
- Wash linens in very hot water (at least 50C) to kill dust mites
- Vacuum and dust frequently
2. Check your living space for mould
Too much moisture in the air can bother the sinuses and cause sneezing.
A dehumidifier or air purifier can help clear the air and help you stop sneezing.
4. Find out if you have the cold or flu
Sneezing can often be a symptom of an illness like the cold or flu
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