EN NYSNING HÄR

Dear Alice,
Is it unhealthy to hold a sneeze? Does it affect the body in any harmful way?
Thank you for the help!
- Eudora

Dear Eudora,
Stifling a sneeze isn't a great idea. Sneezes serve a purpose: they expel things from your nose that the body would rather not hang onto, like dust, infected mucus, or pollen. Plus, sneezes pack a serious punch - particles expelled from the mouth during a sneeze have been clocked at more than 100 miles per hour! If you don't allow the pressure from a sneeze to come out of your nose and mouth like it's designed to, then that extra pressure is put elsewhere. You could potentially burst a blood vessel, fracture your nose, force air under your skin. It could also cause fractures in the nasal cartilage, nosebleeds, burst eardrums, hearing loss, vertigo or detached retinas, or damage your sinuses or middle ear. You could also force infectious particles deep into the sinuses, spreading an infection. Plus, your body is trying to clear out your pharynx-and that's a good thing

So, therefore it is best to let your sneeze fly (yet shielded by a hankie, preferably). Simply let nature take its course and sneeze up a storm if your nose so desires. Dainty sniffs, mighty storms, singles, doubles, let 'em all out. To help the sneeze come out, look at a bright light. This stimulates the optic nerve, which crosses wires with the sneeze center. The added irritation of an adjacent nerve will get the sneeze going. While you're at it, your neighbors will appreciate it if you cover your nose and mouth!