June 25th 2024.
Did you know that sneezing can be more dangerous than you might expect? When you think of an accident that could cause someone's bowels to burst out of their body, you probably imagine a horrific stabbing or a gruesome car crash. But what if I told you that a simple sneeze could have the same effect? That's exactly what happened to a man in Florida just a few weeks ago.
This man had recently undergone abdominal surgery and was experiencing a complication known as wound dehiscence, where his surgical scar was not healing properly. While eating breakfast one morning, he first sneezed and then began coughing. He immediately felt a sharp pain and a wet sensation in his lower abdomen. To his horror, he discovered that several loops of his bowel had burst through his unhealed wound.
He was quickly rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to repair the damage and return his bowels to their proper place. Sneezing is a natural reflex that helps protect our respiratory system from potential harm, such as dust, bacteria, and viruses. It is controlled by the "sneezing center" in the brain's medulla. This reflex is triggered by irritants in the nose and airways, which send signals to the center.
When we sneeze, our eyes, throat, and mouth automatically close, and our chest muscles contract, compressing our lungs and forcing air out of our respiratory system. This powerful force can reach speeds of up to 15.9 meters per second, expelling any particles that triggered the response. However, as beneficial as sneezing may be, it can also come with a higher risk of injury than many people realize.
For example, a forceful sneeze can cause the lung to herniate through the muscles between the ribs. This is more likely in individuals who are morbidly obese, have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, or smoke. Sneezing can also tear the delicate tissues of the lungs. This occurs when the high-pressure air deep in the lungs escapes into the space between the chest and the lung, compressing the lung on one or both sides.
But it's not just the lungs that can suffer from sneezing-related injuries. There have been reports of people tearing the delicate lining of the brain from sneezing, which can result in a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a potentially fatal condition if not treated promptly. Even without tearing this delicate lining, a sneeze can still affect the brain, causing weakness or visual disturbances in some individuals.
Sneezing can also raise blood pressure, which can lead to other serious injuries, such as aortic dissection. This occurs when the force of a sneeze tears the layers of the aorta, causing blood to burst between the layers. If not treated, it has a 50% mortality rate within 48 hours. While it's not uncommon to injure your back while sneezing, it's not the only musculoskeletal injury that can occur. There have been cases of people fracturing the bones around their eye or the bones of their ear from a forceful sneeze.
In some cases, the increased pressure from sneezing can cause fluid to escape from the body, particularly urine from the bladder. This is more common in individuals with weak pelvic floor muscles, which can be caused by factors such as pregnancy, obesity, menopause, and physical trauma or nerve damage. With all these potential injuries, you might be thinking it's best to hold in your sneezes. But even that can be dangerous.
In 2023, a man in Scotland held in a sneeze by closing his mouth and holding his nose, which resulted in him tearing his windpipe. By blocking off his airways, the pressure from the sneeze built up inside his respiratory system, up to 20 times the normal pressure, causing tissue damage. Others have fractured bones in their face, damaged their larynx, and torn chest tissues while holding in a sneeze.
But there is one injury that a sneeze cannot cause - making your eyes pop out. This is just a myth, as our eyes are held in place by muscles and nerves and are not connected to our respiratory system. Our bodies are well adapted to sneezing, and most people do not need to worry about suffering any of these injuries. However, individuals like Donna Griffiths and Yi Yang may be at a higher risk due to their unique medical conditions.
So the next time you feel a sneeze coming on, don't try to hold it in. It's important to let our bodies do what they're designed to do. And if you do experience any unusual pain or sensations during a sneeze, it's always best to consult a medical professional. After all, as they say, better safe than sorry. Stay healthy and safe, my friends.
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