The potentially lethal nature of aspiration or, in ordinary language, choking, gives it an emergency status. Its occurrence is due to several possible causes. It is more likely in certain patients so those who take care of them or nurse them should remember the important aspiration precautions as a matter of course.
Food passes through the system starting at the mouth. After chewing, it travels along the esophagus into the stomach. Any impairment in the functioning of the esophagus, such as injured muscles in its walls or an unnatural obstacle in its course, can result in an aspiration incident. Physical disability or advanced age are therefore possible causes of a higher risk.
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.
Choking is always an alarming event, and it is stressful for those who try to help the choking person too. That is why people who nurse those who are higher risk should inform themselves of the correct measures to use in addressing it, including how to pre-empt possible occurrences. Pre-emption is possible using a range of unsophisticated methods, some of which have been mentioned below.
If a person is at an abnormally high risk of choking, they should always be seated upright when they eat or drink. This necessitates a chair. If the use of a chair is not possible, then an upright sitting position in bed is essential. It is easier to swallow if the person is sitting up. They should remain in that position for at least half an hour after the meal has ended. If the person is sedated, they should only sleep on their side.
If they require assistance in eating, the caregiver must not try to feed them if they are not conscious of that activity. The food itself should be eaten in small mouthfuls, either small spoonfuls or bites. Chewing (or mastication) should take place at a slow rate, and should be comprehensive. The person should remain undistracted until after they have swallowed.
These safety measures assist in the prevention of choking where the patient struggles to eat or drink normally. They are simple methods that do not require extensive training to institute. But where the aspiration is caused by oxygen deficiency as a secondary symptom of another disorder, the assistance of a medical practitioner should be sought as soon as possible. The latter emergency necessitates more complicated professional intervention and is beyond the ability of ordinary members of the public to resolve.
Food passes through the system starting at the mouth. After chewing, it travels along the esophagus into the stomach. Any impairment in the functioning of the esophagus, such as injured muscles in its walls or an unnatural obstacle in its course, can result in an aspiration incident. Physical disability or advanced age are therefore possible causes of a higher risk.
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.
Choking is always an alarming event, and it is stressful for those who try to help the choking person too. That is why people who nurse those who are higher risk should inform themselves of the correct measures to use in addressing it, including how to pre-empt possible occurrences. Pre-emption is possible using a range of unsophisticated methods, some of which have been mentioned below.
If a person is at an abnormally high risk of choking, they should always be seated upright when they eat or drink. This necessitates a chair. If the use of a chair is not possible, then an upright sitting position in bed is essential. It is easier to swallow if the person is sitting up. They should remain in that position for at least half an hour after the meal has ended. If the person is sedated, they should only sleep on their side.
If they require assistance in eating, the caregiver must not try to feed them if they are not conscious of that activity. The food itself should be eaten in small mouthfuls, either small spoonfuls or bites. Chewing (or mastication) should take place at a slow rate, and should be comprehensive. The person should remain undistracted until after they have swallowed.
These safety measures assist in the prevention of choking where the patient struggles to eat or drink normally. They are simple methods that do not require extensive training to institute. But where the aspiration is caused by oxygen deficiency as a secondary symptom of another disorder, the assistance of a medical practitioner should be sought as soon as possible. The latter emergency necessitates more complicated professional intervention and is beyond the ability of ordinary members of the public to resolve.
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