The potentially lethal nature of aspiration or, in ordinary language, choking, gives it an emergency status. Its occurrence is due to several possible causes. It is more likely in certain patients so those who take care of them or nurse them should remember the important aspiration precautions as a matter of course.
The passage of food through the human body starts when the food enters the mouth. It is pushed into the throat by the tongue. The esophagus transports the food to the stomach. Any obstruction of this passage, or a disability of the muscles and nerves that regulate it, can lead to aspiration. Some conditions, such as stroke, muscular disorders or general old age, can make this more likely.
Foreign objects, usually food, can cause choking. Weak or disabled muscles are another reason, such as when the person suffers from muscular dystrophy or has had polio in the past. The handicapped esophagus then struggles to move the food as it should. Ordinary injuries, such as a stab wound or muscle sprain, can also encourage choking.
But this is not the only mechanism of aspiration. Sometimes, the patient's body cannot get enough oxygen due to an underlying reason. The physical result is that they choke, and they will present symptoms indicating this, such as wheezing respiration, shortness of breath, and the characteristic blue shade to their lips and nails. If these symptoms are observed in the patient, the instant provision of artificial oxygen is necessary. The caregiver should not assume that there is an issue with the esophagus.
Assisting an aspirating person is always an emergency, and it may be a traumatic experience for the person providing the assistance as well. This implies that the latter should be aware of the proper procedures to be followed. There are also safeguards that can be implemented in order to reduce the possibility of an aspiration-related event. Listed below are some of them.
The person who is at risk should only take their meals sitting upright. They should always sit in a chair, but if this is not an option then they should sit upright in bed. Swallowing is far easier in this position, and it should be maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes after they have finished eating. If they are subject to sedation, they should always sleep on their side.
If they require assistance in eating, the caregiver must not try to feed them if they are not conscious of that activity. The food itself should be eaten in small mouthfuls, either small spoonfuls or bites. Chewing (or mastication) should take place at a slow rate, and should be comprehensive. The person should remain undistracted until after they have swallowed.
All of these precautions are useful in preventing aspiration in those who have difficulty eating or drinking. These are basic measures which anyone can apply. However, where the aspiration is not due to more obvious causes, it is necessary to seek professional help, such as when there are inexplicable symptoms of oxygen deficiency. Such symptoms require more advanced methods to address and their treatment should not be attempted by unqualified individuals.
The passage of food through the human body starts when the food enters the mouth. It is pushed into the throat by the tongue. The esophagus transports the food to the stomach. Any obstruction of this passage, or a disability of the muscles and nerves that regulate it, can lead to aspiration. Some conditions, such as stroke, muscular disorders or general old age, can make this more likely.
Foreign objects, usually food, can cause choking. Weak or disabled muscles are another reason, such as when the person suffers from muscular dystrophy or has had polio in the past. The handicapped esophagus then struggles to move the food as it should. Ordinary injuries, such as a stab wound or muscle sprain, can also encourage choking.
But this is not the only mechanism of aspiration. Sometimes, the patient's body cannot get enough oxygen due to an underlying reason. The physical result is that they choke, and they will present symptoms indicating this, such as wheezing respiration, shortness of breath, and the characteristic blue shade to their lips and nails. If these symptoms are observed in the patient, the instant provision of artificial oxygen is necessary. The caregiver should not assume that there is an issue with the esophagus.
Assisting an aspirating person is always an emergency, and it may be a traumatic experience for the person providing the assistance as well. This implies that the latter should be aware of the proper procedures to be followed. There are also safeguards that can be implemented in order to reduce the possibility of an aspiration-related event. Listed below are some of them.
The person who is at risk should only take their meals sitting upright. They should always sit in a chair, but if this is not an option then they should sit upright in bed. Swallowing is far easier in this position, and it should be maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes after they have finished eating. If they are subject to sedation, they should always sleep on their side.
If they require assistance in eating, the caregiver must not try to feed them if they are not conscious of that activity. The food itself should be eaten in small mouthfuls, either small spoonfuls or bites. Chewing (or mastication) should take place at a slow rate, and should be comprehensive. The person should remain undistracted until after they have swallowed.
All of these precautions are useful in preventing aspiration in those who have difficulty eating or drinking. These are basic measures which anyone can apply. However, where the aspiration is not due to more obvious causes, it is necessary to seek professional help, such as when there are inexplicable symptoms of oxygen deficiency. Such symptoms require more advanced methods to address and their treatment should not be attempted by unqualified individuals.
About the Author:
To be able to obtain more information about swallow study and aspiration precautions you must go directly to our main website. Find here the link to click on http://www.swallowstudy.com today.
No comments:
Post a Comment