Stifled sneezing sounds harmless, but it can be dangerous. Learn why your body sneezes in the first place and why you shouldn’t stop it.
Imagine you are sitting in a quiet cinema or in a meeting and suddenly you hear a sneeze. Out of consideration you try to hold it back. Even if this sounds harmless, it is not necessarily so. Because sneezing is an important protective mechanism that you shouldn’t deny your body.
Why we sneeze
Sneezing doesn’t happen by chance; according to the AOK health magazine, it’s an automatic reflex of your body. Dust, pollen or germs that have lodged in the nose are pushed out again with a powerful blast of air.
The trigger is usually irritation of the nasal mucous membranes, and the information is then passed on to your brain at lightning speed via the nerve pathways. This activates the breathing and core muscles and the air escapes explosively. It leaves the body at a speed of over ten meters per second and prevents foreign substances from getting deeper into the body.
Is suppressed sneezing harmful?
In general, you should not suppress the sneezing reflex. When you sneeze, a lot of pressure builds up to remove the foreign body. If you prevent this, for example if you hold your nose, the pressure has to find another way to escape.
“Although health consequences are rare, they can still occur. Examples include: a ruptured eardrum, hearing loss or even a cerebral hemorrhage,” says Dr. med. univ. Branka Zoric, senior physician at the Clinic for Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Pneumology at the Marien Hospital Witten.
In addition, according to AOK, fine blood vessels in the nasal mucosa can be damaged and nosebleeds occur. In rare cases, cracks can even develop in the throat.
Burst capillaries in the eye are also possible consequences of suppressed sneezing.
This is how you sneeze properly
To prevent things from getting that far, follow these tips instead of suppressing your sneezing:
-
Handkerchief: Sneeze into a paper handkerchief and throw it away immediately afterwards. If you only suffer from hay fever and not a cold, cloth handkerchiefs are a better choice because you can reuse them. However, they should not be used in the event of infections, as the pathogens continue to live in the moist environment of the cloth and can be passed on, for example, after reaching into your trouser pocket.
-
Use the crook of your arm instead of your hand: If you don’t have a tissue handy, sneeze into the crook of your elbow. This is better than using your hand because you spread fewer germs on surfaces afterwards.
-
Wash your hands: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after every sneeze and use disinfectant.
-
Change clothes: If you sneeze into your sleeve and have an infection, put the clothes in the wash as soon as possible to kill viruses or bacteria. Even though a temperature of 30 degrees is usually sufficient when washing laundry, you should wash textiles with pathogens at 60 degrees.
-
Keep your distance: Stay away from others if you have a cold. This is how you protect them from infection.
-
Correct greeting: If you have an infection, avoid shaking hands or greeting kisses because of possible droplet infection. A friendly wave reduces the risk of transmitting viruses and bacteria.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Why do you sneeze when you look at the sun?
- Droplet infection: This is how you protect yourself from it
- Cold myths: Vitamin C, turning up your nose and exercise – which myths are true?
** marked with ** or orange underlined Links to sources of supply are partly partner links: If you buy here, you are actively supporting Techzle\.com, because we then receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.