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Acute upper airway obstruction - Prevention

Alternative Names

Airway obstruction - acute upper; Choking

Prevention:

Prevention depends on the cause of the upper airway obstruction. See the individual diseases in the above section for more information.

The following methods may help prevent an obstruction:

Eat slowly and chew food completely.
Don't drink too much alcohol before or while eating.
Keep small objects away from young children.
Make sure dentures fit properly

Throat anatomy

Choking

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 2/11/2009
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic (10/2/2008).

References

Manno M. Pediatric respiratory emergencies: upper airway obstruction and infections. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006: chap 166.

Thomas SH, Brown DFM. Foreign bodies. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006: chap 57.

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Acute upper airway obstruction - Prevention

Alternative Names

Prevention:

References