@thegutexplainer: CHOKING ON FOOD? IT MIGHT BE MORE SERIOUS THAN YOU THINK Ever had food “go down the wrong way” and get stuck in your throat? That’s called esophageal food bolus impaction – when food becomes lodged in your esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach) and won’t move WHAT CAUSES IT? Most commonly meat, fish, or vegetables get stuck, especially in people with underlying conditions like acid reflux, narrowed esophagus, or eosinophilic esophagitis. Eating too fast, not chewing properly, or having dental problems also increase risk. WHY IT’S DANGEROUS: This isn’t just uncomfortable – it can be life-threatening. Without treatment, you risk aspiration (food entering lungs), inability to swallow saliva, dehydration, esophageal perforation, or even death [5], [6]. About 10-20% of cases need emergency endoscopic intervention. SYMPTOMS TO WATCH: • Sudden inability to swallow • Chest pain or pressure • Excessive drooling • Gagging or choking sensation • Difficulty breathing WHAT TO DO: 🚑 Seek emergency care immediately – don’t wait! Never try the “Heimlich” or force liquids down. Endoscopy (camera procedure) successfully removes the blockage in over 95% of cases. References [1] Negoiță, O., Bințințan, V., Cerbu, S., Leucuța, D. C., Munteanu, M., Drasovean, R., Apostu, R. C., Dina, L., & Banciu, C. (2023). Esophageal food impaction and foreign object ingestion in gastrointestinal tract: A review of clinical and endoscopic management. Gastroenterology Insights, 14(1), 117-134. doi.org/10.3390/gastroent14010010 [2] Long, B., Koyfman, A., & Gottlieb, M. (2019). Esophageal foreign bodies and obstruction in the emergency department setting: An evidence-based review. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 56(5), 499-511. doi.org/10.1016/J.JEMERMED.2019.01.025

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Saturday 11 April 2026 19:45:57 GMT