ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Brit was hospitalised after holding in a sneeze and blowing hole in throat

Home> News> Health

Published 11:55 13 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Brit was hospitalised after holding in a sneeze and blowing hole in throat

Talk about a cautionary tale

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Ever held in a sneeze to be polite? Well, you'll be thinking twice about doing so after reading this.

One Brit was left hospitalised after holding in a sneeze and ended up blowing a hole right through his throat.

In a case report published back in 2017, the British Medical Journal explained the medical phenomenon in a report aptly titled: "Snap, crackle and pop: when sneezing leads to crackling in the neck."

Pretty iconic - if you ask me.

Advert

A man was left with a hole in his throat after holding in a sneeze.
Leicester Hospital

In the report, the doctors reported that a 'previously fit and well 34-year-old man' turned up to emergency services with a 'change of voice' after a particularly 'forceful sneeze'.

"He described a popping sensation in his neck and some bilateral neck swelling after he tried to halt a sneeze by pinching the nose and holding his mouth closed," the report continued.

The bloke then started to notice some odd symptoms including pain when swallowing, a change in his voice, a popping sensation and swelling in his neck leading him to seek medical attention.

The case was even more bizarre considering the man 'denied having eaten anything sharp' alongside having 'no fever' or 'signs of respiratory distress'.

Upon a physical examination, health professionals found 'swelling and tenderness' in his neck with an X-ray later revealing that 'streaks of air' had become trapped in parts of the man's throat tissue.

The injury happened due to 'streaks of air' being trapped in the patient's throat.
Towfiqu barbhuiya / Pexels

Lovely image - I know.

These pockets of trapped air effectively meant the man had ruptured his own throat.

The authors added that it was the type of injury that usually results from trauma, surgery, or infection.

One of the doctors who wrote the report, Wanding Yang, told CNN at the time: "This 34-year-old chap said he was always trying to hold his sneeze because he thinks it is very unhygienic to sneeze into the atmosphere or into someone's face.

"That means he's been holding his sneezes for the last 30 years or so, but this time it was different [...] Luckily, it was a very small perforation. He didn't need any operation."

Luckily, the patient recovered after using a feeding tube and being put on a course of antibiotics.

The report noted that his symptoms 'gradually resolved during the course of admission'.

On a two-month follow-up, the man 'did not present any further recurrence or complications'.

So the bottom line?

Catch it, bin it, kill it and never hold it in.

Featured Image Credit: Leicester Hospital/Pixabay

Topics: Health, Weird

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Recommended reads

Diagnosed narcissist shares the one question to ask someone to tell if they have the condition tooInstagram/@the.nameless.narcissistLittle-known law means your holiday can increase in price after booking as summer fears continueGetty Stock Images11 cancers are on the rise in young people as scientists work out first clue whyGetty Stock ImagesThe Boys latest episode censored for more than one billion peoplePrime Video

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • Getty Stock Images
    2 hours ago

    11 cancers are on the rise in young people as scientists work out first clue why

    The cancers showing increasing rates include bowel, thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney and pancreatic cancer, among others

    News
  • Instagram/@davidalfieward
    3 hours ago

    White comedian calls out racist who abused him while on stage

    The mood at the comedian's gig shifted into a 'fight for dignity' when he was left in an uncomfortable position

    News
  • Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Banksy unveils new statue weeks after being 'unmasked' in years-long investigation

    The piece appeared in central London yesterday, rumoured to have been created by the ellusive artist

    News

    breaking

  • Getty Stock
    5 hours ago

    Earth is 'splitting in half' beneath our feet and could see oceans disappear if it doesn't stop

    It can lead to serious geological consequences such as earthquakes

    News
  • Family discovered that their dream house was 'killing them' after being hospitalised
  • Christina Applegate was left hospitalised and 'screaming' with pain over new illness not related to MS diagnosis
  • People are just realising what small hole in nail clippers is actually for
  • Doctors issue warning over holding in a sneeze after man tears hole in throat