Experts say that sneezing can hurt the eardrum

Xiaoya is a standard lady. She not only speaks softly, but also pinches her nose when sneezing in front of outsiders, so as to avoid damaging her image. Two days ago, Xiao Ya pinched her nose as usual and “choked” her sneeze back. Unexpectedly, her ears suddenly became unbearably painful. When she went to the hospital for examination, it was found that the eardrum was perforated.

Sneezing is a stress process in which the human body discharges irritating things from the nasopharynx, and it is a natural defense mechanism. Generally speaking, when the nasal mucosa is stimulated, it will upload a signal, and then the brain will give instructions. Take a deep breath first, and then the chest will contract violently. The gas in the lungs will rapidly eject from the trachea through the mouth and nose, driving away the pungent smell or foreign matters. It is very pleasant.

However, some people feel that the action is not elegant, covering their mouths and noses and forcing them to sneeze, or minimizing their vocalization. However, it is not beneficial to do so. On the one hand, by sneezing, the human body can expel a large number of bacteria and foreign matters from the body and keep the respiratory tract smooth. Forbearing to sneeze is equivalent to “swallowing” the bacteria back. On the other hand, what is more important is to hold back sneezing. The pressure that cannot be relieved will “return” inward, leading to increased pharyngeal pressure, which will then impact the eustachian tube and even damage the eardrum. In serious cases, it may cause perforation of the eardrum, or cause epistaxis and nasal bone damage. In addition, bacteria and the like may also be driven by the eustachian tube to the middle ear tympanic chamber with the airflow, causing suppurative otitis media, sinusitis and other diseases.

Therefore, we should not give up our own health for the sake of temporary elegance. When you sneeze, you must be happy to sneeze. On more formal occasions, it is best to cover your mouth with a handkerchief, paper towel, etc. to prevent saliva particles and germs from flying around. If your nose is easy to be stimulated and you want to sneeze, it is too late to prepare a handkerchief. At this time, it is recommended to sneeze in the elbow socket instead of covering your mouth with your hands, so as to prevent hand mouth contact from transmitting bacteria and viruses. If you have a cold, you should also pay attention to the timely disposal of paper towels after sneezing.

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