Choking happens when something—food or another item—is caught in the back of the throat. If the object (or food) blocks the top of the trachea a person may be unable to breathe. This is an emergency. It is also possible that food or other things can get stuck in the esophagus; while painful, this does not cause a person to stop breathing. This article will cover causes, prevention and the treatment of choking.
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Causes of Choking
Certain medical conditions or circumstances can make a person more likely to choke.
Risk factors include (but are not limited to):
Additionally, certain activities or habits can also increase your risk of choking:
Prevention
Children under the age of 5 have an increased risk of choking.Both cognitive development and anatomic differences in children cause an increased risk in this age group. Small children lack the ability to differentiate what objects may get stuck in their throats. This is often during their oral phase of development when they put everything into their mouths.
As your child gets older, they still remain at risk due to their smaller airway. The risk, however, decreases because cognitively, they become more aware of which items are safe to put in their mouths. While completely child-proofing your home is near impossible, keeping certain objects away from small children can go a long way toward preventing choking.
Common Choking Hazards
High-Risk Foods
Supervision is also one of the single most important factors to help prevent choking. One hundred percent supervision is usually not possible but should be implemented as much as possible when children under 5, elderly persons, or a person with a history of swallowing difficulties are eating.
Keeping small objects out of reach and purchasing appropriate age-level toys can also help prevent non-food-related choking. Also, not allowing children to run and play while eating food or candy can help prevent choking on food.
Some other good prevention tips include:
What Should I Do If Someone Is Choking?
If someone is choking, you should determine whether or not they can talk. If they can talk, cough or make other noises that indicate air passage, let them clear their airway on their own. Intervention at this point may cause further lodging of the object to occur.
If an individual has something caught in the esophagus they will still be able to speak and breathe but it may be painful, especially when swallowing. They may also drool. You should seek medical attention so the object can either be retrieved or pushed into the stomach/intestines using a scope (EGD).
The Heimlich Maneuver
If the person choking is not able to speak or make other noises, they will not be able to breathe either. An indication that a person is not breathing is cyanosis. This is an emergency. You should start abdominal thrusts, also known as theHeimlich maneuver.
To perform the Heimlich maneuver, follow these steps:
CPR
If the person at any point becomes unresponsive (unconscious), you should beginCPR. If you are not alone, have someone else call 911. If you are alone call 911 immediately and (if possible) stay on the line while performing CPR.
Prevention is key when it comes to choking. Educating yourself on common causes of choking can help prevent complications from occurring and keep your loved ones safe.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAlways see a healthcare provider following a choking incident. It is possible to develop problems afterward, including a persistent cough, fever, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing. This could indicate that an object entered the lung.A person who is choking will be unable to speak and will have difficulty breathing. They may make high-pitched sounds while trying to get air. They will either be unable to cough or will cough weakly, and their skin may turn blue.Certain medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause your esophagus to narrow, making you more prone to choking. Other conditions can affect the muscles that control the swallowing process. Habits like eating too fast or not chewing your food properly can also make you more likely to choke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Always see a healthcare provider following a choking incident. It is possible to develop problems afterward, including a persistent cough, fever, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing. This could indicate that an object entered the lung.
A person who is choking will be unable to speak and will have difficulty breathing. They may make high-pitched sounds while trying to get air. They will either be unable to cough or will cough weakly, and their skin may turn blue.
Certain medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause your esophagus to narrow, making you more prone to choking. Other conditions can affect the muscles that control the swallowing process. Habits like eating too fast or not chewing your food properly can also make you more likely to choke.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sidell DR, Kim IA, Coker TR, Moreno C, Shapiro NL.Food choking hazards in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(12):1940-6. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.005Kramarow E, Warner M, Chen LH.Food-related choking deaths among the elderly. Inj Prev. 2014;20(3):200-3. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040795Ghasemi N, Razavi S, Nikzad E.Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.Cell J. 2017;19(1):1–10. doi:10.22074/cellj.2016.4867St Louis Children’s Hospital.Why are Latex Balloons a Danger to Children? 2020.Walner D, Wei J.Preventing choking in children. AAP News. 2011; 32(4)16.CDC.Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes for Children 0 to 14 years of Age. 2002.Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention.Prevention of choking among children.Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):601-7. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2862Kleinman ME, Brennan EE, Goldberger ZD, et al. Part 5:Adult Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 2):S414-35. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000259Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. (2011). Reducing Choking Risks: Tips for Early Education and Child Care Settings.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sidell DR, Kim IA, Coker TR, Moreno C, Shapiro NL.Food choking hazards in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(12):1940-6. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.005Kramarow E, Warner M, Chen LH.Food-related choking deaths among the elderly. Inj Prev. 2014;20(3):200-3. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040795Ghasemi N, Razavi S, Nikzad E.Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.Cell J. 2017;19(1):1–10. doi:10.22074/cellj.2016.4867St Louis Children’s Hospital.Why are Latex Balloons a Danger to Children? 2020.Walner D, Wei J.Preventing choking in children. AAP News. 2011; 32(4)16.CDC.Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes for Children 0 to 14 years of Age. 2002.Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention.Prevention of choking among children.Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):601-7. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2862Kleinman ME, Brennan EE, Goldberger ZD, et al. Part 5:Adult Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 2):S414-35. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000259Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. (2011). Reducing Choking Risks: Tips for Early Education and Child Care Settings.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sidell DR, Kim IA, Coker TR, Moreno C, Shapiro NL.Food choking hazards in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(12):1940-6. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.005Kramarow E, Warner M, Chen LH.Food-related choking deaths among the elderly. Inj Prev. 2014;20(3):200-3. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040795Ghasemi N, Razavi S, Nikzad E.Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.Cell J. 2017;19(1):1–10. doi:10.22074/cellj.2016.4867St Louis Children’s Hospital.Why are Latex Balloons a Danger to Children? 2020.Walner D, Wei J.Preventing choking in children. AAP News. 2011; 32(4)16.CDC.Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes for Children 0 to 14 years of Age. 2002.Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention.Prevention of choking among children.Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):601-7. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2862Kleinman ME, Brennan EE, Goldberger ZD, et al. Part 5:Adult Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 2):S414-35. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000259
Sidell DR, Kim IA, Coker TR, Moreno C, Shapiro NL.Food choking hazards in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(12):1940-6. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.005
Kramarow E, Warner M, Chen LH.Food-related choking deaths among the elderly. Inj Prev. 2014;20(3):200-3. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040795
Ghasemi N, Razavi S, Nikzad E.Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.Cell J. 2017;19(1):1–10. doi:10.22074/cellj.2016.4867
St Louis Children’s Hospital.Why are Latex Balloons a Danger to Children? 2020.
Walner D, Wei J.Preventing choking in children. AAP News. 2011; 32(4)16.
CDC.Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes for Children 0 to 14 years of Age. 2002.
Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention.Prevention of choking among children.Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):601-7. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2862
Kleinman ME, Brennan EE, Goldberger ZD, et al. Part 5:Adult Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 2):S414-35. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000259
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. (2011). Reducing Choking Risks: Tips for Early Education and Child Care Settings.
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