Do you sneeze so loudly that colleagues jump at their desks? The Wall Street Journal explains how to cut the volume of your sneezes with a few simple tricks.
Photo by mcfarlandmo.
If you’re sick of drawing attention to yourself in public places with your Three Stooges-esque sneeze attacks, you can lower the volume pretty easily. The Wall Street Journal explains:
1. Use a thick handkerchief instead of a tissue. The fabric muffles the sound.
2. Hold your breath right before the onset of a sneeze. That can possibly interrupt the body’s coordinated reflex.
3. Cough simultaneously as you sneeze. This also lessens the reflex while decreasing the volume.
4. Clench your teeth and jaw, which suppresses the sound. Keep your lips open to prevent air-pressure buildup.
5. Put your index finger at the base of your nose and push up slightly. This can suppress a sneeze or reduce its severity.
Oh, and that old story about plugging your nose while you sneeze causing your brain to explode? Partially true. Plugging your nose increases the internal pressure in the airway and can cause larynx fractures, ruptured eardrums, voice changes, bulging eyeballs, bladder incontinence and more.
Lowering the Volume of a Sneeze [The Wall Street Journal]
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