No, your heart does not actually skip a beat when you sneeze; that's a common myth.
Many people believe that sneezing causes the heart to skip a beat, but this is incorrect. The physiological changes that happen when you sneeze can affect the heart, but not in the way many people think. While it might feel like your heart skips a beat, what really happens is that your heart might have a slight delay before resuming its normal rhythm.
Here's a closer look at what actually occurs:
- Myth vs. Reality: The idea that your heart skips a beat when you sneeze is a myth.
- Electrical Signals Unaffected: The electrical signals that control your heart rate are not impacted by the physical changes during a sneeze.
- Heart Delay: Instead of skipping a beat, your heart might experience a brief delay of a second or two before returning to its regular rhythm.
The reference states, "You may have heard that your heart skips a beat when you sneeze, but **that's a myth**. Electrical signals that control your heart rate aren't affected by the physiological changes that happen when you sneeze. But the heart may get delayed for a second or two before resuming its regular rhythm."
In summary, while it may feel like your heart is skipping a beat, your heart is simply experiencing a brief delay in its normal rhythm.