Why You Shouldn't Suppress Sneezing

Doctors have found that suppressing a sneeze is not advisable. When a person tries to hold back a sneeze, the pressure is directed towards the nasopharynx and the posterior parts of the nasal cavity. This is where the mucus that was supposed to exit during the sneeze ends up. As a result, the risk of infecting the Eustachian tube and middle ear increases. Sinusitis may develop, and intracranial pressure may rise.