Sneezing is an important part of the immune response. Sneezing keeps our bodies safe and healthy. Sneezing protects our bodies by clearing bacteria and viruses from the nose. When something like dust particles or pollen enters our nose, it activates the sneeze center in our brain. The sneeze center is located in the lower brain stem. Signals are swiftly sent to close our throat, eyes, and mouth tightly. After that, our chest muscles vigorously contract, and then our throat muscles quickly relax. As an outcome, air, along with saliva and mucus, is forced out of our mouths and noses, and we sneeze.
Recently, a man tore his windpipe by holding a sneeze. The elevated pressure created a tear of 0.08 by 0.08 inches (2 by 2 millimeters). As per a recent BMJ case study, this is the first known case. This incident happened when a man was driving his car and unexpectedly encountered hay fever. He got the whim to sneeze, but instead of sneezing, he tried to control it by pinching his nose and closing his mouth. The result was unimaginable. His sneeze-control technique caused a tiny, two-by-two-millimeter hole in his windpipe.
According to the report from Live Science, his airway closure built up the pressure, which rendered a sneeze 20 times stronger than normal, resulting in horrible damage. After that, the man started experiencing severe pain; his neck was swollen on both sides, and he toiled to move it. He was rushed to the hospital. The doctors who examined him heard a faint crackling sound, but the man didn't have any concerns about breathing, swallowing, or talking. An X-ray of the neck disclosed that the man had surgical emphysema. Surgical emphysema is a condition in which the air becomes infiltrated into the subcutaneous layers of the skin, which are the deepest layers of the skin. The CT scan of the man revealed that a tear had been found between his neck’s third and fourth vertebrae, and air was amassed in the area of his lungs and chest. Doctors inferred that the tear was caused by a rapid build-up of pressure in the trachea when he squeezed his nose and closed his mouth instead of sneezing.
Doctors said that there was no requirement for surgery. He was under observation at the hospital for two days to ensure that his oxygen levels and other vitals remained stable. During discharge, doctors prescribed painkillers and hay fever medicines and instructed him to avoid strenuous physical activities for two weeks. After five weeks, he underwent a CT scan that showed the tear had healed on its own.
The BMJ case report author wrote in the journal that everyone should be advised not to stifle sneezes by pinching the nose while keeping the mouth closed, as it can result in tracheal (windpipe) perforation. According to doctors, tearing one’s windpipe is rare but not feasible. Only a few cases are reported; they are caused by physical trauma or injuries following medical surgeries, such as procedures to remove the thyroid gland or the insertion of a tube into the windpipe. Usually, surgery is needed to repair the injury, depending on the location of the tear and whether the patient’s vital signs are steady.
References:
1) https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/11-surprising-sneezing-facts
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542192/
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina)