Causes And Risk Factors For Aspiration

Aspiration is a term utilized to characterize when an individual breathes foreign objects into the airways that feed into their lungs. The most common objects that cause aspiration include food, saliva, and stomach contents from vomiting, heartburn, and swallowing. Many individuals describe aspiration as when food goes down the wrong way. Aspiration that occurs in a healthy individual occasionally does not cause a problem because they can cough and expel the object before it gets into their lungs. The most common individuals affected by chronic and frequent aspiration that can cause serious complications are the elderly population and infants. Aspiration may also occur when patients are under anesthesia and the contents of their stomach enter their trachea and lungs. Chronic aspiration produces symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and a hoarse voice after they drink, eat, experience heartburn, or vomit.