Three Ways a Sneeze Could Kill You
Have you ever worried you might sneeze while driving and veer off a cliff? It’s not the only way a sneeze could kill you.
There was a story this month about a guy who sneezed and experienced “bowel evisceration.” (!!!) He’d recently had abdominal surgery, and part of his intestines came out through the wound.
Thankfully, he’s okay. But someone decided to freak us all out by posting a list of even more ways a sneeze could kill you . . .
1. Herniated lungs. Part of your lung can pop out through your ribcage. It’s more likely to happen if you smoke, or you’re obese. Sneezing can also cause a collapsed lung, which can be life-threatening if it’s not treated right away.
2. A stroke. There are documented cases of sneezes causing a type of stroke called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. (sub-uh-rack-noid) That’s when there’s bleeding between your brain and the membrane that surrounds it.
3. Torn arteries. A really big sneeze can cause acute aortic dissection. That’s when the inner layer of your body’s main artery ruptures.
There are also documented cases of people breaking bones in their face sneezing . . . and bones in their ear, which can cause hearing loss.
But whatever you do, don’t try to hold one in. A guy in Scotland tried it last year and blew out his windpipe. Luckily, he’s okay.