Doctors Issue Warning After Man Tears His Throat By Trying to Stop a Sneeze

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Getty

Getty

Doctors are warning people not to hold back their sneezes after a man ended up in the hospital.

The patient, who has a history of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and nasal congestion, was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Scotland. In addition to the pain, the man’s neck was swollen and had minimal range of movement.

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A spontaneous tracheal perforation, or a sudden tear of the throat, is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. The patient didn’t require surgery and was reportedly given painkillers and hay fever medication after being discharged 48 hours later.

Doctors also told the patient to avoid strenuous physical activities for 2 weeks. During a 5-week check up, another CT scan showed that the tear had healed.

Dr Rasads Misirovs, lead author of the report, toldBBC Scotland Newsthat people should always let their sneezes out.

Sneezing helps protect the body from allergens, germs, and irritants, according toHealth. In addition to a tear of the throat, holding back a sneeze can lead to a ruptured eardrum, rupture of blood vessels to the eye or nose, rupture of a brain aneurysm or rib fractures.

“We should gently cover the face either with our hand or inner side of the elbow to prevent the irritants such as viruses, together with saliva, mucus reaching others around us,” Misirovs said.

source: people.com