The dangers from ... sneeze

We all know that a blow may become a 'weapon of mass destruction' because it spreads pathogenic bacteria. For example, a person who has a cold when sneezing can infect 150 people in a car in just 5 minutes. Now there is much evidence that sneezing can cause serious injuries, even death.

Left photo: Victoria Henny has now recovered after 2 years of bedridden because of acrimony.Photo: Carters New Agency.

Right picture: Not only dispersing bacteria, sneezing can also damage the body.

In a series of potentially dangerous activities, Lauren Henshaw thinks sneezing is not a worrying behavior. Until one day the power of a blow made her slip the disc on her back. Recalling the incident two years ago, Lauren, an entertainment expert working in Cheshire (UK), said: 'While I was taking a bath, I was sneezing. A writhing pain appeared and I collapsed to the floor. At that time, I was home alone and the phone was in the bedroom. ' 2 hours later, she woke up and tried to crawl into the bedroom to call her aunt. It took another two hours for Lauren to get out first to open the door for her aunt to take her to emergency. 'I had to go on crutches for two weeks and asked to take three months off to work as a physiotherapist. That's a nightmare , 'Lauren recalled.

It may sound too much, but actually sneezing can make some people seriously injured. For example, lawyer Victoria Henny, who was bedridden for up to 2 years after being seriously injured by a drip while watching TV. The sneeze was so strong that it broke the disc in the spine, causing the sciatic nerve to be stuck between the two vertebrae. The 53-year-old mother was forced to quit her job due to constant pain and depression, sometimes even trying to commit suicide. Suffering only ends after Victoria gets a spinal surgeon earlier this year.

Professor Adam Carey, a sports injury specialist in the UK, said there are two types of sneezing that can cause injury. It is so sneezing that it makes the whole body move. This is called a 'zipper effect' - the head is forward and jerks back quickly, which can damage the muscles and bones. The second type is when we try to control the ace. This compression creates enormous pressure in the head, which can lead to perforation of the eardrum, tearing of blood vessels and head muscles, damage to the sinuses and even brain hemorrhage. London doctor Phil Stemmer advised: 'You have to watch your teeth when sneezing because in some cases, they bump into each other and you can break your teeth. I used to treat a person who has broken teeth and those who bite themselves on the tongue or inside the cheek. '

Scientists estimate a sneeze with a speed of up to 1,040 km / hour. With strong thrust like rocket thrust, injuries are inevitable. Jenny Compton, a student in Hampshire, suffered a broken rib in a sneeze three years ago. 'At first there was nothing, but 3 days later, I felt very painful and every time I coughed or sneezed, I just wanted to die,' said Jenny. When she went to the doctor for a medical examination and X-ray, she found out that she had broken a rib and had to be treated for weeks.

The case of Jenny and Lauren is relatively light. Earlier this year, Dean Rice (18) sneezed on the first day of camping in South Wales. Just a few seconds after Dean cried in his ears, he collapsed and died - a sneeze caused him to have a serious brain hemorrhage. Last month, retired engineer John Oram, 79, also died of brain hemorrhage and myocardial infarction, which doctors said was caused by a powerful nose jump.

How to avoid injury when sneezing? According to the physiotherapist Sammy Margo in London, if you feel like you're going to sneeze, hold on to your abdominal muscles and try not to get the 'zipper effect'. When acupressure, the body's movements get out of your control and it can stretch the ligaments, hurt the muscles, joints and discs.