Why You Shouldn’t Suppress a Sneeze
Suppressing a sneeze may seem like a good idea, but physicians strongly advise against it. While it may provide temporary relief, halting a sneeze can have serious consequences for your health. Here’s why you should let those sneezes out:
- Potential complications: Suppressing a sneeze can lead to various complications. One of the most concerning is the risk of a perforated eardrum. The force of a suppressed sneeze can cause a tear in the delicate membrane of the eardrum. Additionally, it can also lead to the rupture of a brain aneurysm or trapped air between the lungs.
- Pinching your nose and clamping your mouth shut: Some people resort to pinching their nose and clamping their mouth shut to prevent a forceful sneeze. However, this practice can be extremely dangerous. Doctors have reported cases of patients who have experienced ruptures in the back of their throats as a result of this technique. Not only is this type of injury painful, but it can also interfere with essential functions such as speaking and swallowing.
Instead of suppressing a sneeze, it’s much safer to simply let it out. Sneezing is a natural reflex that helps to expel irritants from your respiratory system. By allowing yourself to sneeze freely, you’re helping to protect your health and prevent potential complications.
Historical Superstitions Surrounding Sneezing
In the 1500s, there was a prevalent belief that when a person sneezed, their soul would temporarily leave their body, rendering them susceptible to malevolent spirits. Conversely, sneezing was also thought to expel any evil spirits that had taken residence within the body. The tradition of saying “God bless you” after someone sneezes dates back to the 6th century and continues to be widely practiced today.
Pope Gregory the Great, in his time, associated sneezing with the early signs of a plague. As a precautionary measure, he urged Christians to utter the phrase “God bless you” in order to invoke divine intervention and protect against the disease. This custom has endured throughout the ages.
Furthermore, a long-standing belief suggests that a succession of sneezes indicates the imminent arrival of a visitor or serves as an indication that people are engaging in discussions about the person who sneezed. Others claim that multiple sneezes can foreshadow a significant financial gain, such as winning the lottery.