Most of us have experienced a choking sensation while drinking or eating something. That’s once we say the standard phrase: “It went down the unsuitable pipe” or “it went down the unsuitable way”. But is it really true that food can go down the unsuitable pipe?
The short answer to this query is yes. In medical terms, it’s often called ‘aspiration’ and occurs when the food, as a substitute of happening the esophagus, is diverted into the trachea.
Beyond being an uncomfortable situation, it poses some health risks. That’s why we let you know the way it happens and what to do to take care of it.
What happens when food goes down the unsuitable pipe
When food goes down the unsuitable way several symptoms might be triggered. Essentially the most obvious is a choking sensation, which manifests itself with coughing and chest tightness. Also, as a rush of adrenaline occurs, the guts rate accelerates and blood pressure rises.
Depending on the severity of the situation, oxygen levels could also be reduced. If that’s the case, immediate medical attention ought to be sought to avoid more serious complications.
Why does this occur? The issue is often called “aspiration” and can occur by accident or on account of some condition that causes swallowing difficulties.
To know it higher, we must start with the indisputable fact that now we have two ducts within the throat area: the esophagus and the trachea. The primary is the feeding tube, through which food passes into the stomach. The second is the respiratory tube, which not only transports gases, but additionally protects the respiratory tract by warming and humidifying the air and expelling possible foreign agents.
When food or beverages are swallowed, they’re placed near the ends of each tubes. Nevertheless, when swallowing, the airway closes and the esophagus opens to permit the food to go through the proper tube. Nevertheless, various factors can affect this process.
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What causes food to go down the unsuitable tube?
Under normal conditions, the vocal cords and epiglottis are answerable for keeping the airway closed. Thus, food, beverages, and saliva don’t leak into the lungs. In healthy people, this process might be disrupted by eating too fast, being distracted, or talking with a full mouth.
If that’s the case, each passages remain open, making it possible for food to slide down the unsuitable pipe. Nevertheless, as detailed in a publication by the Cleveland Clinicat that moment, a fight or flight mechanism is often activated, manifested by a gag and cough reflex.
This permits the aspirated material to be routinely expelled. Nevertheless, this isn’t all the time the case.
In severe cases, food particles can move into the lungs, resulting in other complications. Especially when aspiration is recurrent.
It ought to be noted that, in some people, this case occurs because their throat muscles don’t work properly. These cases are often called “dysphagia aspiration” and are related to the next health problems:
- Muscular dystrophy
- Brain injuries
- Cerebrovascular accidents
- Spinal cord impairment
- Blockage of the esophagus, on account of a tumor, for instance
- Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders
- History of radiation therapy or surgery for throat cancer
- Conditions that reduce the quantity of saliva, akin to Sjögren’s syndrome
What happens within the body when food is diverted into the trachea?
Normally, when food by chance passes into the trachea, the cough reflex allows it to be expelled again. Thus, in a matter of seconds, a sense of relief is obtained without major complications.
This might be accompanied by a sense of obstruction within the throat, in addition to irritation and pain. Fortunately, these discomforts disappear quickly and without the necessity for treatment.
Complications arise if the fabric manages to leak into the lungs or if, on account of some disease, aspirations are recurrent. If that’s the case, other manifestations may include the next:
- Pain when swallowing
- Excessive salivation
- Burning within the stomach
- Mild chest pain
- Fever shortly after eating
- The feeling of food backing up within the mouth
- Shortness of breath or difficulty respiratory, especially when eating
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight reduction
- Stressful eating
The presence of those symptoms is a reason for medical consultation.
Depending on the frequency and the material aspiratedjust some or several may occur at the identical time. In any case, the physician should evaluate the situation to acquire a diagnosis and suggest treatment based on the case.
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What to do if coughing didn’t solve the issue?
There’s one other first aid measure that might be implemented when coughing isn’t enough to expel food debris that leaks through the trachea. Pulmonologist Bohdan Pichurko explains it through a Cleveland Clinic publication:
- The primary measure is to not panic.
- Then, you may have to suspend whatever you might be doing on the time, to lie in your stomach with a cushion under your hips.
- From this position, the trachea is barely tilted downwardswhich often facilitates the expulsion of foreign material.
When should a physician be consulted?
Due to risks involved in aspiration, there are some cases through which it’s best to see a physician. If the cough reflex and first aid didn’t work, the cough will probably last for greater than two hours. If that’s the case, seek immediate care.
Other warning signs include vomiting with bleeding, fever, chills, and stabbing pain within the chest. It’s essential to avoid further food or drink before being checked by an expert.
The physician can arrive on the diagnosis with a physical examination and complementary tests, akin to the next:
- Sputum tests
- Chest x-rays
- Swallowing studies
- CT scans
Treatment may vary from individual to individual, depending on the identified cause. Sometimes a bronchoscope is used to remove the food particle. Also, if there are signs of bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed.
Other medium-term measures include the next:
- Dietary changes.
- Swallowing therapy, which involves exercises to strengthen and coordinate the muscles.
- Surgery. Crucial when other treatments don’t work and there may be a severe swallowing problem that forestalls swallowing food.
How do you prevent food from happening the unsuitable channel?
Correcting some mealtime behaviors is the perfect technique to prevent particles from leaking down the unsuitable channel. Thus, it’s best to implement the next:
- Eat smaller bites: eating very large and abundant chunks is one in all the the explanation why food strays. The bottom line is to divide it into smaller portions and take enough time to chew well.
- Avoid talking together with your mouth full: this bad habit prevents the airways from closing properly when swallowing food. Subsequently, attempt to eat in silence, at the least while the food stays in your mouth. The identical applies to laughter.
- Consider the food: using electronic devices during meals, or some other distracting element, increases the danger of aspiration. Focus your attention on food.
- Good posture: in fact, during meals, maintain proper body posture. If possible, you must remain upright. If you may have to eat in bed, use a wedge-shaped pillow to lift your body to a protected position.
- Drink water with meals: the liquid will help moisten the food within the mouth, which can decrease the possibilities of it entering the airways.
What must you remember?
Food happening the unsuitable passageway is a possibility we’re all exposed to. It often occurs from distractions while eating, talking with a full mouth, or attempting to swallow an excessive amount of food without chewing properly.
Often, that is resolved inside seconds by the cough reflex.
Nevertheless, if this isn’t the case, it’s a great idea to seek the advice of a physician to forestall possible complications. It shouldn’t be ignored that this case can also be the manifestation of other underlying problems. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the higher the possibilities of recovery.
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