New Delhi: Because of fear of good or bad omens, there are many who end up holding back a sneeze with little or no knowledge of the many consequences that may occur. In one such case, a patient from Scotland in his 30s made this mistake by trying to stifle a bout of sneeze. He did so by pinching his nose and closing the mouth while driving. But this led to a hole being torn in his throat. Doctors commented on this one of a kind case and said that the pressre from the sneeze was so major that it resulted in an 0.08 inch hole in the windpipe.
The patient was rushed to a hospital and doctors could hear a crackling noise as the patient tried to breathe. However, he was still able to walk, swallow and talk. Doctors strongly advise not stifling a sneeze by pinching the nose as it can result in tracheal perforation. The patient was suffering from allergic rhinitis, a condition wherein the nose becomes irritated by allergens like pollen. This can result in the following:
Blocked nose
Running, itchy nose
Sneezing
Red, watery eyes
Itchiness on the roof of the throat
This is often known as hay fever.
What happens when one stifles a sneeze?
Sneezing can result in build-up of pressure in the airways and holding it back can cause the build-up to worsen by 20 times. This case, reported in BMJ Case Reports, is said to be the only known case wherein holding a sneeze resulting in a hole getting ripped in the throat. when the patient arrived at the hospital, his neck was swollen on both sides and he could not move it. Doctors also found in an x-ray that he had surgical emphysema, a state wherein air gets trapped in the deepest tissues under the skin.
CT scans also found a tear between the third and fourth bones of the neck and air started to accumulate between the lungs and chest. Doctors monitored him for two days at the hospital to see if oxygen levels were steady and then discharged him after giving hay fever drugs and painkillers. The tear healed in five weeks.
How to reduce the risk of hay fever?
Patients who are more sensitive to suffering from hay fever must do the following to stay safe from the debilitating symptoms. These include:
Wear a mask while stepping out
Take a shower and wash your hair and clothes on high pollen days
Keep the windows and doors closed
Keep windows closed
Wipe pets with a wet cloth to remove pollen
The patient was rushed to a hospital and doctors could hear a crackling noise as the patient tried to breathe. However, he was still able to walk, swallow and talk. Doctors strongly advise not stifling a sneeze by pinching the nose as it can result in tracheal perforation. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
