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.
Food is the most obvious source of an obstructing foreign object. The impaired function of the esophageal muscles is another, either due to neurological disorders or physical injury. Disorders include polio, muscular dystrophy or Parkinsons, while injury may be caused by a strain or wound. The esophagus is then unable to function in its natural way and the person may choke.
Aspiration may, however, also be due to a lack of oxygen resulting from some other medical condition. Anaemia or lung problems can cause this outcome. The patient will exhibit telltale symptoms, such as shortness of breath, harsh rasping respiration (wheezing), or a bluish hue in their fingernails and lips. These symptoms are not always due to trouble in the esophagus and need the immediate application of 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.
The person who is at risk should only take their meals sitting upright. They should always sit in a chair, but if this is not an option then they should sit upright in bed. Swallowing is far easier in this position, and it should be maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes after they have finished eating. If they are subject to sedation, they should always sleep on their side.
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.
Food is the most obvious source of an obstructing foreign object. The impaired function of the esophageal muscles is another, either due to neurological disorders or physical injury. Disorders include polio, muscular dystrophy or Parkinsons, while injury may be caused by a strain or wound. The esophagus is then unable to function in its natural way and the person may choke.
Aspiration may, however, also be due to a lack of oxygen resulting from some other medical condition. Anaemia or lung problems can cause this outcome. The patient will exhibit telltale symptoms, such as shortness of breath, harsh rasping respiration (wheezing), or a bluish hue in their fingernails and lips. These symptoms are not always due to trouble in the esophagus and need the immediate application of 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.
The person who is at risk should only take their meals sitting upright. They should always sit in a chair, but if this is not an option then they should sit upright in bed. Swallowing is far easier in this position, and it should be maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes after they have finished eating. If they are subject to sedation, they should always sleep on their side.
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.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire