It may feel like second nature to hold in a sneeze, especially if you’re trying to suppress the spread of germs or avoid disrupting those around you. But holding in your sneeze may actually do more harm than good. By not sneezing, you actually keep irritating substances in your body, where they can enter the sinuses and lungs.2 A sneeze may leave the body at 70 miles per hour, holding it in may actually cause damage to your ears and throat.2 Mucus may accumulate and be forced into your ears’ Eustachian tubes. These tubes are small passages that connect your ears to your throat and help to drain fluids and alleviate pressure. If the built-up mucus is due to a virus or bacterial infection and is pushed into these tubes, the result may be a middle ear infection or holes in the eardrum.2 The simple way to avoid these complications is to let out your sneezes and allow your body to rid itself of irritants. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands and clean any nearby surfaces afterwards.