Airway Obstruction Essay

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What Is an Airway Obstruction? An airway obstruction is a blockage in the airway. It may partially or totally prevent air from getting into your lungs. Some airway obstructions are life-threatening emergencies. They require immediate medical attention to prevent death. Types of Airway Obstructions Upper airway obstructions occur in the area from your nose and lips to your larynx. Lower airway obstructions occur between your larynx and the narrow passageways of your lungs. Partial airway obstructions allow some air to pass. You can still breathe with a partial airway obstruction, but it will be difficult. Complete airway obstructions do not allow any air to pass. You cannot breathe if you have a complete airway obstruction. Acute airway obstructions are blockages that occur quickly. An example of an acute airway obstruction is choking on a foreign object. Chronic airway obstructions can occur in one of two ways. These can be blockages that take a long time to develop. They may also be blockages that last for a long time. For example, emphysema can cause a chronic airway obstruction. What Causes an Airway Obstruction? The classic image of an airway obstruction is someone choking on a piece of food. However, that’s only one of many things that can cause an airway obstruction. Other causes include: * inhaling or swallowing a foreign object * a small object becoming lodged in the nose or mouth * allergic reactions * trauma to the airway from an accident * vocal cord problems * breathing in a large amount of smoke from a fire * viral infections * bacterial infections * croup - a respiratory illness that causes upper airway inflammation * swelling of the tongue or epiglottis * abscesses in the throat or tonsils * a collapse of the tracheal wall, known as tracheomalacia * asthma * chronic bronchitis *

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