Choking is a potentially lethal accident. It often happens during swallowing, but not always. The medical term for choking is aspiration and it has a variety of possible causes. Some people are more at risk of this occurrence than others, and so it is important to take the necessary aspiration precautions in caring for them and managing their lifestyles.
The passage of food through the human body starts when the food enters the mouth. It is pushed into the throat by the tongue. The esophagus transports the food to the stomach. Any obstruction of this passage, or a disability of the muscles and nerves that regulate it, can lead to aspiration. Some conditions, such as stroke, muscular disorders or general old age, can make this more likely.
Large pieces of food are typical culprits in aspiration. Another source of danger is weakness in or injury to muscular walls of the esophagus, caused by either various illnesses (multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, etc.) or mechanical trauma, like burns or lacerations. The disabled esophagus cannot process the swallowed matter like it normally does and the person is at risk of choking.
Sometimes, it is not due to any of these causes, but is based on the person's inability to get enough oxygen. This might be due to lung dysfunction or anaemia. The characteristic symptoms of this condition are the usual ones associated with a lack of oxygen: blue nails and lips, wheezing, or shortness of breath. These symptoms require immediate intervention, often in the form of artificially administered oxygen.
Coming to the rescue of a choking person is never a pleasant experience, since it is always a matter of extreme urgency. The caregiver of a person who is at increased risk of this eventuality should therefore have a good knowledge of how to deal with it. They should also make use of the precautionary measures that are available to them. The latter are sometimes very basic and easy to implement, as shown in the examples below.
To start with, eating should be made as easy as possible. The person at risk should always sit upright, preferably in a chair. If a chair is not available, then they should sit upright in bed. This enables easier swallowing, and they should stay in that position for half to three quarters of an hour after they have finished the meal. If they use sedatives, they should sleep on one side, not on their back or stomach.
During eating, the patient should take only small amounts of food at a time, and chew slowly and thoroughly. They should not be distracted until they have swallowed. Those who require to be fed by someone else should only have food put into their mouths if they are adequately aware that someone is trying to do so.
All of these precautions are useful in preventing aspiration in those who have difficulty eating or drinking. These are basic measures which anyone can apply. However, where the aspiration is not due to more obvious causes, it is necessary to seek professional help, such as when there are inexplicable symptoms of oxygen deficiency. Such symptoms require more advanced methods to address and their treatment should not be attempted by unqualified individuals.
The passage of food through the human body starts when the food enters the mouth. It is pushed into the throat by the tongue. The esophagus transports the food to the stomach. Any obstruction of this passage, or a disability of the muscles and nerves that regulate it, can lead to aspiration. Some conditions, such as stroke, muscular disorders or general old age, can make this more likely.
Large pieces of food are typical culprits in aspiration. Another source of danger is weakness in or injury to muscular walls of the esophagus, caused by either various illnesses (multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, etc.) or mechanical trauma, like burns or lacerations. The disabled esophagus cannot process the swallowed matter like it normally does and the person is at risk of choking.
Sometimes, it is not due to any of these causes, but is based on the person's inability to get enough oxygen. This might be due to lung dysfunction or anaemia. The characteristic symptoms of this condition are the usual ones associated with a lack of oxygen: blue nails and lips, wheezing, or shortness of breath. These symptoms require immediate intervention, often in the form of artificially administered oxygen.
Coming to the rescue of a choking person is never a pleasant experience, since it is always a matter of extreme urgency. The caregiver of a person who is at increased risk of this eventuality should therefore have a good knowledge of how to deal with it. They should also make use of the precautionary measures that are available to them. The latter are sometimes very basic and easy to implement, as shown in the examples below.
To start with, eating should be made as easy as possible. The person at risk should always sit upright, preferably in a chair. If a chair is not available, then they should sit upright in bed. This enables easier swallowing, and they should stay in that position for half to three quarters of an hour after they have finished the meal. If they use sedatives, they should sleep on one side, not on their back or stomach.
During eating, the patient should take only small amounts of food at a time, and chew slowly and thoroughly. They should not be distracted until they have swallowed. Those who require to be fed by someone else should only have food put into their mouths if they are adequately aware that someone is trying to do so.
All of these precautions are useful in preventing aspiration in those who have difficulty eating or drinking. These are basic measures which anyone can apply. However, where the aspiration is not due to more obvious causes, it is necessary to seek professional help, such as when there are inexplicable symptoms of oxygen deficiency. Such symptoms require more advanced methods to address and their treatment should not be attempted by unqualified individuals.
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