What happens when food goes down the wrong way?

Food and liquid both go down the esophagus to the stomach, while air goes down the windpipe or bronchial tubes to the lungs. Both the esophagus and windpipe are connected.

Occasionally, a small amount of food or liquid may start to go down the windpipe. Typical involuntary responses would include gagging, coughing, and choking. Difficulty in coughing up the food or liquid may cause a person to panic, while food lodged in the bronchial valve may quickly cause unconsciousness caused by the person being unable to cough out blockage, leading to a lack of of oxygen to the brain. The Heimlich maneuver by another person is very successful dislodging the blockage.

There are numerous causes for food or liquids going down the wrong pipe. Being in too much of a hurry and eating or drinking too quickly is the most common reason, but other medical conditions as well as a number of medicines can also cause dysfunction in swallowing leading to a misdirection of food or liquids down the windpipe. If you consistently have this problem it is best to consult with a doctor to get a proper diagnosis to eliminate potentially serious physical problems.