from British Medical Journal
Ever try stifling a sneeze? Its pretty hard
to do and, as it turns out, can be
dangerous. A case report in the British
Medical Journal tells of a young man who
pinched his nose shut and closed his
mouth to contain a forceful sneeze. The
event left him in considerable pain, barely
able to speak or swallow. Emergency
room doctors discovered he had ruptured
the back of his throat by the maneuver.
He required a feeding tube and, because
he could not swallow, intravenous
medications. After a week in the hospital,
the man was sent home with the advice
not to again stifle a sneeze. Doctors say
as bad as that incident was, even more
serious consequences could have resulted,
such as perforated ear drum or air trapped
in the chest between both lungs.