Sneezing is a reflex that protects your body by clearing the nose of bacteria and viruses. According to Neil Kao, MD, an allergy and asthma specialist at the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville, S.C., when something enters your nose or you come across a trigger that sets off the "sneeze center" which is located in the lower brain stem, sending rapid signals to tightly close your throat, eyes, and mouth. The next thing that will happen will be your chest muscles vigorously contract, followed by your throat muscles to quickly relax. Resulting to air, along with saliva and mucus, will be forced out of your mouth and nose. People in some random cases; blow their nose after sneezing just to relieve them of the mucus that may have gone out of their noses.

But a recent incident has given these people sneeze something to think about. A woman in the United Kingdom was reported to have been brought to the hospital after she blew her nose so hard it led her eye to swell to the size of a golf ball.

The 32-year-old woman was managed by the medical staff at the emergency department of Leicester Royal Infirmary University Hospital. She told doctors that her right eyelid bulged immediately after she had blown her nose so hard hours earlier. The doctors performed tests that showed the woman was suffering from "orbital emphysema", a swelling that is usually caused by air forced into the soft tissues around the eye.

According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), this condition may lead to blindness in the worst cases. The BMJ also said the condition is usually caused by a trauma, such as a blow to the face. However, the woman's scans revealed that the woman had a nasal fracture, which doctors said may have also caused the forceful blowing.

Fortunately, the woman, who chose not to be identified, was given antibiotics and is now making a full recovery.