A 35-year-old man from Santa Cruz, California, suffered a major stroke and nearly died after a violent sneezing fit ruptured an artery in his neck. Ian Applegate was sitting in his car with his wife, Jennifer, and their four-year-old son, Jon, when the terrifying medical episode unfolded. After sneezing three times, Ian was suddenly struck by a blinding headache, severe dizziness, and sharp shooting pain from his neck to the back of his head and left eye. Moments later, Ian experienced pins and needles throughout the left side of his body — including his face — which quickly went numb.
The Sudden Medical Emergency
Ian was rushed to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, where doctors determined he had suffered a stroke caused by a tear in the inner lining of the vertebral artery — a critical blood vessel that supplies blood to the spinal cord and central nervous system. The force of the sneezing fit caused the tear, blocking blood flow and triggering the stroke. Doctors immediately gave Ian blood thinners to prevent further clots and admitted him to the ICU, where he was closely monitored for 24 hours. Though his life was saved, Ian’s road to recovery is expected to be long and difficult.
Diagnosis And Immediate Treatment
The engineer, who remains hospitalized since the incident on February 9, is currently unable to swallow and needs assistance to walk due to the damage caused to his left side. He is expected to undergo intensive rehabilitation to regain muscle control and mobility — all while hoping to return home in time for the birth of his second child, a baby girl, due in April. Now, Ian is speaking out about the frightening incident and his fears for the future.
“It was my first day back at work after being sick with the flu all week,” Ian recalled. “After work, I went to take care of our horses. I was sitting in the truck and had just buckled our four-year-old into his car seat. I sneezed three times, and on the third sneeze, I got a blinding headache and everything started spinning.” Ian said he knew almost immediately that he was having a stroke when he felt the pins and needles sensation. “The pain was excruciating. I was very disoriented and started throwing up,” Ian said.
Living With Fear And Uncertainty
