Breathed food into lungs. Will this cause a problem?
March 12, 2013 10:09 AM
I accidentally inhaled a bite of toast. Is there any health risk? Do I need to do anything?
I can't quantify the size. I'm congested and was talking and chewing. (sorry) I took a deep breath and the piece went down quite effortlessly. It's not painful, just a very minor bit of discomfort.
posted by Bushmiller at 10:17 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by Bushmiller at 10:17 AM on March 12, 2013
Reading wiki and taking into account that you can feel its presence, I suggest you get yourself checked out if you can't cough it up within a few hours. If you can breathe past it the risks seem to be infection-related, so you can probably give yourself some time to try and bring it up.
posted by ElliotH at 10:25 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by ElliotH at 10:25 AM on March 12, 2013
You're fine. This happens. You don't need to do anything unless you start showing symptoms of infection.
posted by ellF at 10:29 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by ellF at 10:29 AM on March 12, 2013
You run the risk of aspiration pneumonia, but I think it's a small risk. Be on the alert for any of the symptoms mentioned here. If you don't get any, I wouldn't worry.
posted by amro at 10:41 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by amro at 10:41 AM on March 12, 2013
I inhaled a good bit of toothpaste once. It was terrible for 2 days but cleared up on its own.
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:43 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:43 AM on March 12, 2013
What do you think they're going to do about it? The only things they could do to get it out would be extremely painful and invasive.
It can't have been too big if it went down effortlessly. Did you cough? There's a possibility it lodged harmlessly in your throat and went down with your next swallow. There's also the possibility that it was the tiniest crumb, which felt bigger because our bodies are understandably sensitive about inhaling things.
I work with people with swallowing difficulties who sometimes inhale food or drink. Having food or drink in your lungs is not ideal, but it happens fairly often. Keep an eye out for a chest infection. However, research suggests that although things going down the wrong way is a cause of chest infections, if you are otherwise generally healthy, you have a nice clean mouth, you are mobile and active and you have a strong cough, you're not at high risk.
With toast the biggest hazard is choking, and that clearly isn't what happened to you.
posted by kadia_a at 10:43 AM on March 12, 2013
It can't have been too big if it went down effortlessly. Did you cough? There's a possibility it lodged harmlessly in your throat and went down with your next swallow. There's also the possibility that it was the tiniest crumb, which felt bigger because our bodies are understandably sensitive about inhaling things.
I work with people with swallowing difficulties who sometimes inhale food or drink. Having food or drink in your lungs is not ideal, but it happens fairly often. Keep an eye out for a chest infection. However, research suggests that although things going down the wrong way is a cause of chest infections, if you are otherwise generally healthy, you have a nice clean mouth, you are mobile and active and you have a strong cough, you're not at high risk.
With toast the biggest hazard is choking, and that clearly isn't what happened to you.
posted by kadia_a at 10:43 AM on March 12, 2013
My husband once thought he had done this with a bean. A single bean.
He went to the ER because he was distressed. They shoved a tube with a camera down his throat and couldn't find the bean. They suspected when he coughed that it went back down the way it should have.
But I never did hear tell of what they would have done had they found the bean inside his lung (he went to the ER alone as we had a baby and someone needed to stay with the baby.)
I suspect you are probably fine, but if you are worried, they can shove a tube down there and take a look. Apparently it's rather uncomfortable, but if you're worried, you could have it done.
posted by zizzle at 10:48 AM on March 12, 2013
He went to the ER because he was distressed. They shoved a tube with a camera down his throat and couldn't find the bean. They suspected when he coughed that it went back down the way it should have.
But I never did hear tell of what they would have done had they found the bean inside his lung (he went to the ER alone as we had a baby and someone needed to stay with the baby.)
I suspect you are probably fine, but if you are worried, they can shove a tube down there and take a look. Apparently it's rather uncomfortable, but if you're worried, you could have it done.
posted by zizzle at 10:48 AM on March 12, 2013
What do you think they're going to do about it? The only things they could do to get it out would be extremely painful and invasive.
I think the issue is infection. My mother, who gets aspiration pneumonia frequently due to an underlying medical condition, is always placed on antibiotics when she gets it.
posted by amro at 11:29 AM on March 12, 2013
I think the issue is infection. My mother, who gets aspiration pneumonia frequently due to an underlying medical condition, is always placed on antibiotics when she gets it.
posted by amro at 11:29 AM on March 12, 2013
Take deep breaths in between coughs. I did this with some hard-boiled egg & coughed it out after a while. Lungs are good at getting stuff out.
posted by univac at 12:31 PM on March 12, 2013
posted by univac at 12:31 PM on March 12, 2013
A friend of mine had to aspirate out a lot of a ham and cheese sandwich out of someone's lungs. It's hard to do, bread gets all soggy and ends up staying in (the ham and cheese had more structural integrity).
The worst-case scenario from this is pneumonia -- so infection is a risk, but nothing else is significantly likely. That said, pneumonia can be pretty bad, so try to keep your eyes out for anything and avoid doing things that will further irritate your lungs.
posted by jeather at 2:29 PM on March 12, 2013
The worst-case scenario from this is pneumonia -- so infection is a risk, but nothing else is significantly likely. That said, pneumonia can be pretty bad, so try to keep your eyes out for anything and avoid doing things that will further irritate your lungs.
posted by jeather at 2:29 PM on March 12, 2013
I did a first aid course a few months back. If someone is choking and passes out you give them mouth to mouth, if you blow the obstruction into the lungs (most likely to be food) you then seek medical attention immediately even if hopefully they gain conciousness pretty quickly.
So I'd say, run it past your doctor, or call a medical helpline if there's one where you are.
posted by Youremyworld at 4:33 PM on March 12, 2013
So I'd say, run it past your doctor, or call a medical helpline if there's one where you are.
posted by Youremyworld at 4:33 PM on March 12, 2013
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A little crumb? No. Phlegm and a bit of coughing should take care of it if
posted by pipeski at 10:10 AM on March 12, 2013