Here's why you should never hold in a sneeze

As children, we're always taught to cover our noses and mouths when we sneeze. And while this is done to prevent spreading germs and infections, some people believe that it's to cover up for making weird noises. In fact, sometimes sneezing is even looked down upon which is why a lot of people tend to also hold in a sneeze. But do you know that doing so can be life-threatening for you?

When we sneeze, bacteria or harmful particles and expelled from the body at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour (yes that's how fast a sneeze is). This is basically your body's way of ensuring that no harmful particles enter your body. So, what happens when you try to control your sneeze? It gets directed elsewhere and more often than not to your ears which could seriously impair your eardrums and could even cause deafness.

We're sure you've also heard that your heart skips a beat when you sneeze. Thankfully, this isn't true. There's a lag in your heartbeat when you sneeze but it never really stops beating at all. When you're sneezing, your windpipe pressure increases as well, so if you try to control your sneeze the pressure gets released inside your body and this may very easily damage not just your windpipe but even your lungs. Do remember that when a sneeze is internalised the pressure is 5 to 25 times higher.

Some other side effects of holding in your sneeze include middle ear infections, damage in eye blood vessels, brain aneurysm and even broken ribs. So, the bottom line is that you must not try to control or hold in your sneeze in any way. Do ensure to cover your nose and mouth when you're sneezing and try to sanitise your hands immediately so that there is no risk of spreading infections.