A sneeze may seem harmless, but medical experts caution that forcibly holding one in can create dangerous pressure inside the head — sometimes enough to cause injury. While most people think covering a sneeze is polite, physicians say you should never try to completely block it.

Sudden Pressure Can Damage Delicate Tissues

When you suppress a sneeze, you’re effectively trapping air that would normally exit your nose and mouth at speeds over 150 kilometers per hour. This sudden stop sends pressure backward through the sinuses, ears, and skull.

Ear, nose, and throat specialists warn that this spike can rupture small blood vessels, leading to nosebleeds or red patches in the eyes, known as subconjunctival hemorrhage. These are usually mild and heal on their own but can be startling when they appear.

Rare but Serious Cases Documented

Though uncommon, doctors have reported more severe injuries linked to holding back a sneeze. One man suffered a ruptured throat after pinching his nose and closing his mouth to stop a sneeze, according to a BMJ Case Reports article. Other rare cases include damaged eardrums, sinus infections, and, in extremely rare circumstances, brain vessel injury in people with underlying conditions such as aneurysms or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Safe Sneezing Habits

Specialists recommend allowing sneezes to occur naturally — just cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sneeze into your elbow to protect those around you from germs. Trying to contain the entire burst of air can put unnecessary stress on sensitive tissues in the head.

“A sneeze is a protective reflex. Suppressing it can push pressure into spaces where it shouldn’t go,” doctors caution.

Bottom Line

While dramatic complications are rare, the risks are real enough for experts to urge against stifling sneezes. Instead, let them out safely and hygienically — your eyes, ears, and sinuses will thank you.