Achoo! Why letting out an explosive sneeze is safer than stifling it

Following the case of a man who ruptured this throat, medics say holding in a sneeze can cause ear damage or a brain aneurysm

In a season where colds are rife, holding your nose and closing your mouth might seem like a considerate alternative to an explosive "Achoo!". But doctors have warned of the dangers of such a move after a man was found to have ruptured the back of his throat when attempting to stifle a sneeze.

Medics say the incident, which they detail in the journal BMJ Case Reports, came to light when a 34-year old man arrived in A&E with a change to his voice, a swollen neck, pain when swallowing and a popping sensation in his neck after he pinched his nose to contain an expulsion.