Sneezing is a natural reflex of the body to eliminate irritants from the nasal passages. Though sneezing doesn’t seem like a dangerous condition, it can cause some serious problems in rare cases, including a stroke.

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain gets blocked or interrupted, causing brain cells to die. In this article, we explore whether sneezing can cause a stroke and what you can do to prevent it.

How Does a Stroke Happen?

A stroke happens when the blood supply to a specific part of the brain is blocked or interrupted. There are two main types of stroke:.

Ischemic stroke: It happens when a blood clot forms in the arteries that supply blood to the brain
Hemorrhagic stroke: It occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds

Both types of stroke can cause severe damage to the brain, leading to loss of cognitive and speech abilities, limb paralysis, and, in severe cases, death.

The Link Between Sneezing and Stroke

There is a tiny and rare possibility that sneezing can cause a stroke. It happens when a sudden and forceful sneeze causes a blood vessel in the brain to burst or rupture.

The medical term for it is called “sneeze-induced cerebral hemorrhage.”.

An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed a case of a 34-year-old man who had a stroke due to sneezing. He had a history of high blood pressure and chronic nasal congestion.

One day, while sitting at his desk, he had a forceful sneeze and immediately developed a severe headache and vision loss. When he got to the hospital, a scan showed that he had a hemorrhagic stroke that was likely caused by a ruptured aneurysm in his brain.

The aneurysm was only 2mm in size, and it was likely the force of the sneeze that caused it to rupture, leading to the stroke.

Though such cases are extremely rare, they can be fatal. A sneeze can increase the pressure in the blood vessels, leading to a sudden and forceful surge of blood to the brain, which, in rare cases, can cause a rupture in a blood vessel.

However, this is only possible in people who have weak blood vessels or underlying conditions that make them more prone to strokes, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.

How to Prevent Stroke Due to Sneezing?

If you have any underlying medical conditions that increase your risk of stroke, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you should take extra precautions when you feel a sneeze coming on. Here are some tips:.

If you feel a sneeze coming on, take a deep breath and try to relax your body. It can help reduce the pressure on the blood vessels.
If you’re standing, sit down and keep your head down to reduce the blood pressure in your head.
If you have a history of nasal congestion, talk to your doctor about ways to manage it. Over-the-counter nasal decongestants can help reduce the pressure in the nasal passages, reducing the force of the sneeze.
Practice good sneezing hygiene. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you sneeze to prevent the spread of germs.

Conclusion

While the chances of a stroke happening due to sneezing are exceptionally low, they are not zero. Therefore, it’s essential to take necessary precautions and manage any underlying conditions that might increase the risk of stroke.

Managing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can help reduce the risk of sneeze-induced stroke.