I am sure we have all heard the saying that the heart stops momentarily every time we sneeze. That is a scary thought to cross a persons mind but is it true? Each time that we sneeze, the intrathoracic pressure in our body momentarily increases in order to build up kinetic energy that will be used to eject any foreign particles residing in the nasal cavity along with 1 kPa of air (Setzen & Platt, 2019). The heart does change its normal heart beat but only momentarily in order to compensate for the decrease in blood flow. Sneezing is just another reaction by the body in order to keep us healthy by keeping our airways clear and free of pathogens.
There are however times when sneezing can cause damage (Wu, Yeh, & Liu, 2018). People who experience episodes of heavy sneezing can potentially get pneumocephalus and subdural hemorrhaging from air that gets into the brain. Fortunately, this does not cause long term damage beyond the acute presence of a headache. One habit that is commonly done by some people is squeezing the nose to prevent the sneeze from bursting out. This practice never prevents the sneeze from happening it only blocks its escape. Doctors have referred to this being dangerous and unnatural with the possibility of causing aneurisms which can be fatal. A sneeze should be allowed to run its course from start to finish without interruption for the best results.
Setzen, S., & Platt, M. (2019). The Dangers of Sneezing: A Review of Injuries. American journal of rhinology & allergy, 33(3), 331–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/1945892418823147
Wu, Y. H., Yeh, I. J., & Liu, K. T. (2018). Spontaneous pneumocephalus and subdural hemorrhage after sneezing. The American journal of emergency medicine, 36(10), 1928.e1–1928.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2018.07.002
This was an interesting read! I have a neighbor who broke two ribs a few years ago as a result of a sneeze. These are forceful actions that our body makes and it was cool to hear about the risks carried with the action. I would be interested to learn whether or not there are any risk factors that put someone more at risk for an injury as a result of a sneeze. Overall a great post!
ReplyDeleteThough it is rare, I find it very interesting that something as natural as sneezing can actually cause one to die. This made me curious about the mechanisms behind sneezing and why it happens. I found that sneezing most commonly occurs via irritation of the nasal mucosa, but can also be triggered by bright light, a full stomach, and stimulation to the trigeminal nerve. This makes me curious about what other natural body mechanisms have the potential to cause death.
ReplyDeleteSongu, M., & Cingi, C. (2009). Sneeze reflex: Facts and fiction. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease, 3(3), 131-141. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753465809340571
I have also heard that your sneeze can be released at upwards of 60mph so holding a sneeze in can be very bad. Something as mundane as sneezing has a very intricate procedure that involves intrathoracic pressure and change in heart beat. I think it goes to show how complex the human body is but also how fragile it is at the same time. Very cool find.
ReplyDelete