What happens to the heart when you sneeze

Surely these days many of you are experiencing a flu-like condition and the sneezes are plentiful. The idea that our heart stops when we sneeze sounds more like something that would be hard to believe, but then again, experts say, the human body does some strange things, but also some wonderful things. Sneezing is our body's way of expelling foreign matter, such as dust or pollen, out of the respiratory tract. There is also evidence that the high air pressure in the mouth associated with sneezing causes the brain to start "asking" the nerves in the nose to produce more mucus. The job of the extra mucus is to help prevent foreign substances from entering the lungs.

The heart can stop, but it can also rest, the difference is huge. Cardiologist Kenneth Mayuga explains what happens to our heart when we sneeze. The first thing you need to know is that there is a big difference between when the heart is resting and when the heart stops working. The heart does not beat at a certain speed. It speeds up and slows down all the time, depending on many factors. For example, our heart rate increases when we run and slows down when we sleep.

When we talk about "cardiac arrest" in medical terms, we generally mean a pause that lasts at least 3 seconds. Such a long pause could be a sign of a heart rhythm problem. But the good news is that sneezing, as a normal body function, generally does not cause these long pauses. So sneezing does not cause the heart to stop. Although usually nothing to worry about, sneezing has the power to slow the heart, at least for a short time.

Dr. Mayuga adds: The rhythm of the heart breaks when we sneeze, but the heart does not stop. However, there is a certain caveat. Some people experience a phenomenon called "sneeze syncope." Syncope is fainting, and when it happens, the sneezing person's heart rate and blood pressure drop so low that the person may feel dizzy or pass out. Such an occurrence is very rare, even among people who have syncope.