Airway obstruction Question (kind of challenging?)?

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Hi, I'm not sure if this a challenging question or not but no one on yahoo seems to be able to answer it with the most information.

I'm taking a first aid course and was wondering about a couple of questions that I would ask my instructor, but we're on vacation right now.

I've heard of two types of obstructions in the windpipe-partial obstruction where some air can get through and complete obstruction in which the person would be choking.

My two questions are this:

1.) Does the size of the object/food piece make a difference as to whether a windpipe is partially or completely obstructed? (Example: Is it more likely that a larger object/piece could cause a complete obstruction?)

2.) Now this one is more cause I'm getting scared! I chew my food well. Is it likely or possible for well chewed up food that one is chewing on with his/her teeth to just go to the back of the mouth and block the airway? (I'm referring to chewed food)

Your info is apprecated :)
-George
I'm not sure of your age, but if you are an adult, look at your index finger, this will be about the approximate size of your "windpipe" or trachea. Look at various pieces of food and imagine how much of this food it would take to block the airway. Not very much, especially food that isn't chewed. Partially chewed meat is a problem, more people choke on meat than any other type of food. As for questions 2, keep chewing your food, take smaller bites and swallow normally. Where people get into trouble, is laughing while eating, drinking more alcohol etc. As you will learn in your class, a person who has a partial obstruction can still get enough air in to cough and clear the obstruction, leave them alone and watch them. They can become a completed obstruction and would require you to perform the Heimlich Maneuver to clear the airway for them. Good questions and good luck with class.  (+ info)

food or airway obstruction, puking up foam, difficult to swallow?

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If you had airway obstruction, you'd feel like you were going to cough up a lung, so that is clearly not the problem.
Acid reflux will cause tightening of the muscles at the top of the esophagus in order to protect the lungs. This makes the swallowing of solids like meat or bread difficult. It will also affect the ability to swallow small bits of fluid, such as the saliva (yes, you read that right) that you are "puking up". Patients find it much easier to swallow a large bolus of liquid, such as a normal sized amount you'll have when taking fluids.
You may want to treat the reflux with an over-the-counter anti-acid, such as Zantac, Pepcid, or Prilosec. Tums or other calcium-based (Mylanta, Maalox) don't work for acid reflux.  (+ info)

why is semi fowler's position being done with patients who have airway obstruction?

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Semi-Fowler's positon http://connection.lww.com/Products/evans-smith/documents/c14/jpg/F1925-014-016_01.jpg is a sitting-up position of 45-60 degrees. Fowler's position is sitting "straight up".

Semi-Fowler's position helps maintain an open airway.  (+ info)

Airway obstruction, airway inflammation, and overly sensitive airways are all components of:?

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a. hyperventilation
b. emphysema
c. bronchitis
d. asthma
Asthma.  (+ info)

From what percentage of obstruction a heart surgery is recomended?

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My father has a 40% obstruction on his right coronary and 50% on his left coronary, and a 80% obstruction on his left marginal. With these levels what is the best approach? Heart surgery, angioplasty or other? Detail: although in good health he is 73 yo.
It is not clear from your answer where the 50% on the left coronory was located....
The reason this is important is that disease in the Left Main or 3 vessel disease (L coronory, R coronory, Circumflex) are the 2 clear cut indications for CABG or coronory artery bypass grafting. Mostly of the other blockages are handled and handled well with Angioplasty with or without stents..
Your cardiologist will look at several different things to decide on the treatment approach including collateral blood flow..pump function of the heart etc..
And by the way some of the answers above are ridiculously flawed...if the lesions are such that your cardiologist suggests CABG then that is what he should have.  (+ info)

What is the difference between reactive airway disease and asthma?

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My doctor told me I have reactive airway disease and not asthma. What is the difference?
they are the same. I wondered for years, too, maybe a regional/background taught to differerent MD< its the same.  (+ info)

How will my airway be maintained under general anesthesia?

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I'm getting all 4 wisdom teeth done and getting a temporary anchorage device put in my mouth at the same time. I'll be put under general anesthesia at our local hospital. How will my airway be maintained while I'm under?
They'll keep a tube handy, and monitor your breathing/airway, and if necessary, put the tube in to keep it open.  (+ info)

How long can a person live with a bowel obstruction?

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My mother-in-law is in the hospital and very sick.She's been there for 5weeks now and they just found out that now she has an obstruction on top of everything else thats wrong with her , and she isn't strong enough to have surgery to remove it.How long can she live with it?They say shes had it for about 3 weeks already.
She must not be completely obstructed if she has had it for 3 weeks. The doctors can probably get it moving without surgery. Either way, pray for her and keep up hope.  (+ info)

What is the correlation between reactive airway disease and pneumonia?

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My daughter has an exclusionary rider for reactive airway and we are being denied coverage for both a couple of office visits and ER visit for pneumonia. Never did the doctor say her reactive airway (which she has only had once....two years ago!!) was related to the pneumonia.
There is no correlation except pneumonia can exacerbate her reactive airway disease. But, not every time she got reactive airway the cause would be pneumonia. The cause can be varied.  (+ info)

What condition results from an obstruction that totally blocks the flow of blood in a coronary artery?

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What condition results from an obstruction that totally blocks the flow of blood in a coronary artery?

A. Headache
B. Heart attack
C. Stroke
D. Blindness
Answer is B. Heart attack (Myocardial infarction).
Acute coronary syndromes result from acute obstruction of a coronary artery. Consequences depend on degree and location of obstruction and range from unstable angina to non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), and sudden cardiac death. Symptoms are similar in each of these syndromes (except sudden death) and include chest discomfort with or without dyspnea, nausea, and diaphoresis. Diagnosis is by ECG and the presence or absence of serologic markers. Treatment is antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, nitrates, β-blockers, and, for STEMI, emergency reperfusion via fibrinolytic drugs, percutaneous intervention, or, occasionally, coronary artery bypass graft surgery.  (+ info)

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