Don't Underestimate, Holding Back Sneering Can Cause Sacrificial To Break

Illustration of holding back sneezing (Photo: Freepik/8photo)

JAKARTA - Holding back sneezing is often taken lightly and becomes a habit of some people for the sake of politeness or avoiding noise in public places. However, who would have thought that this habit could have fatal consequences? A man in England experiences a torn route (the main air channel) just because he is holding back sneezing. This case is an important reminder that sneezing should not be held.

This shocking incident happened to a man in his 30s while driving. He tries to hold back sneezing by covering his nose and mouth at the same time. Suddenly, he felt great pain in the neck and went straight to the emergency unit at Ninewells Hospital, totaling Scotland.

When examined, the medical team found swelling in the neck, accompanied by a 'retangling' sound when touched. The results of the CT scan show that the man is experiencing tracing perforation, namely a hole in the main respiratory tract that can cause the air to enter the body's tissue abnormally.

"Patients who come with swollen necks suddenly after sneezing were quite surprising to us. We have never encountered similar conditions except in cases of postoperative injuries or complications," said Dr. Rasads Misirovs, the doctor who handled this case, quoted from The Guardian's website.

When a person holds back sneezing, the air pressure in the respiratory tract can increase extremely.

"If the mouth and nose are closed while sneezing, the pressure in the upper airways can increase by 20 times," said Dr. Misirovs.

"This amount of pressure can cause tearing in the trakea, rupture of blood vessels in the brain, or even the risk of weak death," he continued.

This case has been published in the medical journal BMJ Case Reports and is considered a very rare event.

"The chances of experiencing complications like this are very small, almost never. It's like winning a million lottery, but with a result that can change life," says Dr. Misirovs.

Although this condition has the potential to be deadly, the man is lucky. He was only hospitalized for 48 hours with strict supervision and was given pain relievers. Within five weeks, the tearing in his throat managed to completely heal.

However, doctors warn that not all cases can end that well. Through this case, Dr. Misirovs provides important advice.

"Let the sneezing come out properly, because it is a natural mechanism of the body to get rid of irritation from the nasal channel," he explained.

However, in order to maintain cleanliness and prevent transmission of the virus, Dr. Misirovs also gave the best advice.

"We should cover the face with our hands or elbows, to prevent the spread of particles such as viruses, saliva, and mucus to those around us."