"If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die."
A sneeze (or sternutation) is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, most commonly caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. Sneezing can further be triggered through sudden exposure to bright light, a particularly full stomach, or as a symptom of viral infection.
The function of sneezing is the expulsion of mucus from the nose containing foreign particles or irritants as well as the cleansing of the entire nasal cavity during colds and other viral infections. During a sneeze the soft palate and uvula depress while the back of the tongue elevates to partially close off the passage to the mouth so that air ejected from the lungs may be expelled through the nose. Because the closing off of the mouth is partial, a considerable amount of this air is usually also expelled from the mouth. The force and extent of the expulsion of the air through the nose varies widely from one individual to another, but the mechanics of a sneeze as outlined above assure that it will function toward this end.
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