Don't hold in that sneeze

Containing a sneeze by pinching your nose and closing your mouth may seem like a polite thing to do around other people. But it can be a serious health risk. Photo: Filepic

Containing a sneeze by simultaneously pinching your nose and closing your mouth can cause substantial injury, doctors say.

The warning comes from ear, nose and throat specialists at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in Britain, who recently treated a 34-year-old man that showed up in the emergency department complaining of strong pain when swallowing and serious difficulty speaking.