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suffocation

April 6, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Hendrik Bernau

I ate a chicken leg earlier and now I feel like something is stuck in my throat! It feels like a small knot! But I can still eat and swallow! But my question is: when would I choke? How long does it take to choke?

Dr. med. Hendrik Bernau

Dear questioner,

First of all, stay calm. As I can see from your question, you are not experiencing shortness of breath. Often, the foreign object does not reach the airways, but instead goes into the esophagus. The main difference is that after overcoming the initial coughing, breathing remains clear and only a pain is felt behind the chest or in the throat.

Even if it is a less dramatic case of swallowing, you should definitely consult your (family) doctor if the cough persists. In the case of aspirating smaller foreign objects, the cough may even decrease, even though the object is still in a bronchus. This poses a risk of chronic damage to the bronchi.

In this case, hospitalization is necessary; therefore, do not hesitate to see a doctor if you continue to experience symptoms.

I hope I was able to help you. If you have any further questions, I am always available to assist you.

Wishing you good health.

Best regards,

Dr. med. - anonymized -