and the vocal cords open. The eyes involuntarily close. Then a gust of air launches through the airway, making a turbulent “whoosh” sound. A sneeze can fly out of the body at 100 mph.

Holding in a sneeze may seem harmless but it can lead to rare yet serious complications including brain-related injuries.

A simple sneeze can travel up to 100 miles an hour and spray a cloud of 100,000 germs. Sounds gross, but sneezing is actually a protective reflex that's designed to keep you healthy. It begins ...