![]() |
The universal distress signal for choking is grabbing the throat with the hand. Other danger signs include: Inability to speak; Weak, ineffective coughing; Noisy breathing or high-pitched sounds while inhaling; Difficulty breathing; Bluish skin co...
|
|
Choking is a major cause of death for children under three and is a hazard for older children as well. Young children naturally explore the world with their mouths, and they will readily put in their mouths anything that fits. If a small object sl...
|
|
Blockage of the throat or windpipe by an object. Choking is a major cause of death for children under three, and is a hazard for older children as well. Young children explore the world with their mouths, and they will naturally put in their mouth...
|
|
There are three reasons why people choke. These are: mechanical obstruction tissue swelling crushing of the trachea Regardless of the cause, choking cuts off the air supply to the lungs. Indications that a person's airway is blocked include: the p...
|
|
|
Cyanosis is a physical sign causing bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. Cyanosis is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.
|
|
|
Cyanosis is a physical state characterized by bluish discoloration of the skin and mucus membranes. This elderly woman's lips turned purple due to central cyanosis, a condition most commonly due to slow blood circulation, leading to a bluish skin coloration.
|
|
Blue fingernails may represent a type of cyanosis caused by a lower level of lack of
circulating oxygen in the red blood cells. It may also represent a high level of an
abnormal form of hemoglobin in the circulation.
|
|
Blue lips may represent a type of cyanosis caused by a lower level of circulating oxygen
in the red blood cells. It may also represent a high level of an abnormal form of
hemoglobin in the circulation.
|
|
When the airways are blocked or narrowed by inflammation, secretions, a foreign object, mass, swelling or spasm, the breath sounds become noisy. If the high pitched breath sounds are a sign of difficulty breathing then immediate medial attention is required..
|
![]() |
Breath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing.
|
|
Unconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and other stimuli around him or her. Often, this is called a coma or being in a comatose state. Other changes in awareness can occur without becoming unconscious. Medically, these are called "Altered Mental Status" or "Changed Mental Status." They include sudden confusion, disorientation, or stupor. Unconsciousness and any other SUDDEN change in mental status must be treated as a medical emergency. If someone is awake but less alert than usual, ask a few simple questions -- What is your name? What is the date? How old are you? If the person doesn't know or answers incorrectly, then his or her mental status is diminished.
|
|
Cyanosis refers to a bluish cast to the skin and mucous membranes caused by a lower
level of circulating oxygen carried by the red blood cells. It may also represent a high
level of an abnormal form of hemoglobin in the circulation.
|
![]() |
Breathing difficulties involve a sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of not getting enough air. See also difficulty breathing - first aid.
|
|
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the patient ' s level of physical activity. It is a symptom of a variety of different diseases or disorders and may be either acute or chronic.
|
|
Struggling to Breathe: A Nurse’s Tips for Managing DyspneaDyspnea is the technical word for difficulty breathing. It's a common symptom in people who have lung cancer or have cancer that has spread to the lungs.
|
|
Detailed information on the most common breathing problems in a newborn
|
|
Severe shortness of breath and shortness of breath accompanied by certain symptoms requires immediate medical attention.
|
|
If your child cannot seem to get enough breath in his lungs (shortness of breath) or is having a hard time breathing, he probably has a medical condition that needs treatment. If your child is old enough to talk, he can tell you that he is having difficulty breathing. If your child is younger, you may notice that he is breathing harder or faster than usual, isn't feeding well, or is cranky.
|
|
Shortness of breath may be a warning sign of heart disease.
Chest pain is a near-universal signal of heart disease. Shortness of breath may be an equally valuable tip-off.
|
|
I had a quadruple bypass seven years ago. A few months back I found myself taking frequent short breaths when I climbed the stairs. Once I stopped exerting myself, my breathing soon returned to normal. Is this due to a problem with my heart or lungs?
|
|
For the past two months I have experienced increased shortness of breath. I have chronic asthma, but there's concern the shortness of breath could be caused by a blockage in heart. I have experienced difficulties in the past when anesthetized. Is there an effective alternative to heart catheterization? I've read about a new CT scan ? is it recommended?
|
|
Breathing that slows down or stops from any cause is called apnea. Apnea can come once in a while and be temporary. This tends to occur with obstructive sleep apnea . Prolonged apnea is means a person has stopped breathing. This is also called respiratory arrest.
|
|
Stridor is an abnormal, high-pitched, musical breathing sound caused by a blockage in the throat or voice box (larynx. It is usually heard when taking in a breath. See also: Wheezing
|
|
Stridor is a term used to describe noisy breathing in general, and to refer specifically to a high-pitched crowing sound associated with croup , respiratory infection, and airway obstruction. Stridor occurs when erratic air currents attempt to force their way through breathing passages narrowed by: illness infection the presence of foreign objects throat abnormalities Stridor can usually be heard from a distance but is sometimes audible only during deep breathing.
|
|
Detailed information on stridor, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment
|
|
Stridor is a term used to describe noisy breathing in general and to refer specifically to a high-pitched crowing sound associated with croup , respiratory infection, and airway obstruction. Stridor is a symptom, not a disease.
|