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Are there any harmful effects of plugging your nose when you sneeze?
Seems like a lot of pressure to exert on your brain. Is there any proof of health hazards?
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Yes, aside from the obvious pain you may feel you can end up with an ear infection or possibly damage your ear drum. Here's an excerpt from, http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/askquestion/18083/ear-infections-information-i-sneezed-and-plugged-m.html:
"During a sneeze your body expels air at a tremendous speed. After the process has already begun, trying to stop it by blocking the sneeze is extremely dangerous — the air has to go somewhere, and it gets forced into your ear passages, which, as you know are connected to the nasal passages. The built up pressure can damage both passages and the sinuses, and also forces bacteria into these areas, turning your nasal infection into a ear infection or a sinus infection as well. In severe cases, it is also possible to rupture the ear drum by stifling a sneeze."
"During a sneeze your body expels air at a tremendous speed. After the process has already begun, trying to stop it by blocking the sneeze is extremely dangerous — the air has to go somewhere, and it gets forced into your ear passages, which, as you know are connected to the nasal passages. The built up pressure can damage both passages and the sinuses, and also forces bacteria into these areas, turning your nasal infection into a ear infection or a sinus infection as well. In severe cases, it is also possible to rupture the ear drum by stifling a sneeze."
source(s):
"http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/askquestion/18083/ear-infections-information-i-sneezed-and-plugged-m.html
"http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/askquestion/18083/ear-infections-information-i-sneezed-and-plugged-m.html
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I'm not a medical doctor... But, not allowing a natural process to occur would seem harmful. The purpose of a sneeze is to expel crud from your nose and nasal cavity. Preventing that from happening might be detrimental.
I'm going with Greg D on this one .. air-pressure in the space on the inner-ear side of your ear-drum is equalized through a passage connected to the back of your sinus's. (That why, when you're changing altitude significantly, like when driving in mountainous areas, or flying, your hearing is fixed by swallowing, and sucking on a sweet is a good thing to do.)
So if your nose is blocked and your mouth is closed, where is all the air-pressure going to go? The ear is a fragile thing. I wouldn't want to be blocking a sneeze that way. (Just sneeze into your hand if you have to 'block' it from those around you ..a bit of phlegm in your hand isn't going to kill you.) :)
So if your nose is blocked and your mouth is closed, where is all the air-pressure going to go? The ear is a fragile thing. I wouldn't want to be blocking a sneeze that way. (Just sneeze into your hand if you have to 'block' it from those around you ..a bit of phlegm in your hand isn't going to kill you.) :)
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