Man tears windpipe trying to hold in sneeze in first case of its kind

A medical journal has revealed that a man tore a hole in his throat as a result of sneezing.

As if there wasn't enough in the world to be worried about already, prepare to feel a tingling of fear the next time you feel a sneeze coming on.

Fear not though, because doctors have revealed how you can make sure to sneeze safely - because yes, apparently that's a thing.

In its article titled Spontaneous tracheal perforation following a sneeze BMJ Journals reports a man in his 30s driving in his car one day 'with his seat belt on' experiencing 'severe neck pain' after he stifled an 'episode of sneezing' by 'pinching his nose and closing his mouth'.

The journal notes the man had a background of allergic rhinitis - 'also called hay fever, is an allergic reaction that causes sneezing, congestion, itchy nose and watery eyes,' the Cleveland Clinic states.

The man quickly went to his nearest A&E, where doctors discovered his neck had swollen up and he couldn't move it as easily.

Pexels/ Pavel Danilyuk

The patient then underwent an X-ray and CT scan, which revealed he had a 2 mm × 2 mm × 5 mm tear in his trachea - known as a 'tracheal perforation'.

"Only a few cases of spontaneous tracheal perforations have been reported.

"More commonly, tracheal perforations are caused by either iatrogenic or traumatic injuries following a thyroidectomy, traumatic intubation, percutaneous tracheostomy procedure, insertion of an oesophageal stent, oesophageal corrosive injury and sharp and blunt trauma," the article notes.

The man is subsequently believed to be the first reported patient to ever experience a 'spontaneous tracheal perforation following sneezing'.

The case article adds: "Normally, the pressure in the upper airways during sneezing is 1–2 kPa; however, if the mouth and nose are closed, the pressure may increase by up to 20 times."

BMJ

The patient was also found to be suffering from surgical emphysema which 'occurs when air or gas enters the subcutaneous tissue, which is the deepest layer of the skin,' as per Medical News Today.

Thankfully, both issues were treatable, as the man was given paracetamol and codeine for the pain and drops for the congestion he experienced. He also managed to avoid having to undergo surgery as a result of his heart rate remaining steady, alongside a normal respiratory rate, normal blood pressure, oxygen saturation and body temperature.

However, the hospital kept him under observation for 48 hours and didn't let him eat any food for the first day - just in case. He was then discharged home, under the instruction to not pinch his nose with his mouth closed the next time he sneezes and to avoid physical activity for two weeks.

The journal's report concludes: "We suspect the trachea perforated due to a rapid build-up of pressure in the trachea while sneezing with a pinched nose and closed mouth."

Pexels/ Towfiqu barbhuiya

So, the ultimate lesson is, basically, to just always make sure to embrace your sneezes.

You may not enjoy making a trumpeting, squealing sound and drawing attention to yourself - or risk a bit of snot flying out if the sneeze really hits hard. But at the end of the day, it's better than tearing a hole in your throat.