You Won't Believe What Common Foods Are The Worst Choking Hazards

According to the National Safety Council, choking is the 8th leading cause of death among adults. It happens, and whether child, elderly, or adult it can happen to anyone. 

In October 2013, a woman in an Indian restaurant tried a lamb dish that, according to her partner, was all fat and gristle. He spat it out, but his wife wanted to try. She took a bite, and went to spit it out, but the piece slid down and got lodged in her throat. She began choking, and at one point, while she was projectile vomiting, she was pounding on her back. The partner was urged to take her to the washroom where he called the paramedic for help. Before help arrived, she had suffered from a heart attack, and died, in hospital, only 48 hours later.

Choking occurs when an object, food, or liquid becomes lodged in the throat. And adults often choke when eating and drinking too rapidly. Elderly folk can easily choke, especially if wearing dentures: Whether the food is too tough or cut in pieces too large, they can have problems chewing, and end up choking. 

Here are some common choked-on foods, according to Livestrong:

1. Peanut Butter: Do like making those extra gooey peanut butter sandwiches with extra soft baguette bread? Well this is one of the greatest choking hazards, for the peanut butter can easily get lodged in your throat, and that chewy white bread certainly won't help. And forget about drinking to get it all down--that can actually make it worse! Best to spread the peanut butter thinly so you can chew it before swallowing.

2. Meat: When not cut properly, meat can easily cause you to choke, especially if its gristly. For those with dentures, it is particularly hazardous. When eating meat, make sure you cut it up properly into smaller pieces, and avoid drinking alcohol heavily when eating it, for your lowered judgment combined with a major choking hazard can lead to a trip to emerg--at best. And hotdogs are just as much of a choking hazard for adults as for children, so if you're getting a dog at the game with your kids, be careful that with all the fussing with condiments and napkins and drink spillage that you're focusing on your chewing and swallowing.

3. Baked Goods: You know that picture-perfect esculent plate of chocolate brownies and tall sweaty class of cold white milk (or for those lactose-intolerant, almond milk)? Repeat after me: Choking hazard! There are a few major dynamics happening in this scenario: first, no one nibbles on a soft double chocolate browny; in fact, it's not uncommon to forget that you're eating it while you're eating it, because it just goes too fast--this rapid wolfing down of the browny can be, in itself, a choking hazard. Second, that tall sweaty glass of cold milk only makes the whole endeavour even more treacherous: for the milk (or any liquid for that matter) causes the browny (or cookie or pie or cake or any other baked good) to expand, thus increasing the risk of the whole sweet mass getting lodged in your throat. Imagine that--near-death by brownie? 

4. Fruits and Vegetables: That fruit and vegetable platter can be a major choking hazard if you haven't cut the pieces small enough--especially hard fruits and vegetables. Pineapple, though wonderful to take juicy bits of, can be easily stuck in the throat; and the same for apples, and even bananas, melons and berries, and carrots and celery. And if the good times are rolling, with those extra-large bottles of Zinfandel served forthwith, then the risk is even higher caused by excessive giddiness, laughter, and inebriation. 

5. Cinnamon Challenge: This one had to be included, for those idiotic enough to actually take it. This challenge, for those who haven't heard of it, is to swallow a table spoon of cinnamon in 60 seconds. The problem is that the inhalation of the cinnamon can cause asthma and choking. It's always boggled my mind: first, that someone would think of inhaling powdered tree bark (but let's face it, humans have inhaled much worse), and second that this every-day spice could cause such damage to the lungs. Best to leave the cinnamon for the latte that you will drink with, but not simultaneous to, that chocolate brownie...

Best things to avoid choking are making sure you cut your food, avoid excessive eating and drinking at the same time, and having too much laughter and Zinfandel with your friends around the fruit and vegetable platter...