What to do if choking while eating
May 08, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, if someone experiences choking while eating, methods such as coughing, drinking water, back slapping, inducing vomiting, or performing the Heimlich maneuver can be used to relieve the situation. It is important to maintain good eating habits, choose food textures suitable to one's own condition, control eating speed, and avoid eating while lying down or consuming overly hard or sticky foods, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system.
Generally, if someone experiences choking while eating, it can be relieved by coughing, drinking water, back blows, inducing vomiting, or performing the Heimlich maneuver. If the situation is severe, prompt medical attention is recommended. Specific methods are as follows:
1. Coughing
If the sensation of choking is mild, you can try forceful coughing. Coughing is a protective reflex of the body; the airflow generated by coughing helps expel food from the trachea.
2. Drinking Water
Water can lubricate the esophagus and help food pass smoothly. Drinking an appropriate amount of water after choking during eating can soften the food, making it easier to pass through the throat and relieve discomfort.
3. Back Blows
When someone is choking while eating, stand behind the patient and gently pat their back with the palm. The vibration from back blows may help dislodge the food stuck in the throat, making it easier to cough out or swallow.
4. Inducing Vomiting
When choking occurs during eating, gently stimulating the throat with a finger can induce vomiting, expelling the food from the esophagus. However, inducing vomiting should be avoided in patients with difficulty vomiting or who are unconscious.
5. Heimlich Maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver is a specific first-aid technique for choking. It works by rapidly increasing abdominal pressure, forcing the diaphragm upward, thereby compressing the lungs and bronchi to expel foreign objects from the trachea. It is applicable when food is lodged in the esophagus and the patient is conscious.
Maintaining good eating habits, choosing food textures suitable for individual conditions, controlling eating speed, avoiding eating while lying down, and avoiding overly hard or sticky foods can help maintain digestive system health.
