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Aunt Sun is in her 60s this year, and she likes to eat fish the most, especially every time she makes steamed fish at home, she can always eat it with relish. But one day, when Aunt Sun was eating fish, a thin fish bone got stuck in her throat.
Her first instinct was to listen to the old way told by others, and quickly picked up a large bowl of rice and swallowed it quickly, hoping to bring the fish bones into her stomach. However, when I swallowed the rice, my throat still hurt terribly.
So she thought about drinking some vinegar again, but she took a big sip of vinegar, and the stinging sensation not only did not relieve, but made her feel hot in her throat.
Aunt Sun sat in pain on the chair and became more and more anxious. I thought to myself, "What the hell is going to do?" Do you really want to go to the hospital? Why didn't these old methods work? ”
After the fish bone gets stuck in the throat, many people are accustomed to using local methods, such as swallowing rice and drinking vinegar, but are these methods really effective? What is the right way to deal with this situation?
1. Is the common "soil method" really useful?
Fish bones stuck in the throat, the first thing that comes to many people's minds is the "soil method", these methods have been passed down from generation to generation, and it seems to sound very reliable, but do they really work? Let's break down the science behind each of these methods to see if they help us or cause us more trouble.
Can drinking vinegar dissolve fish bones? Don't be misled!
When someone gets stuck in a fish bone, they immediately pick up a glass of vinegar, thinking that the vinegar can soften the fish bone and "dissolve" it. Sounds reasonable, after all, fish bones contain calcium, and acid can dissolve calcium, so drink some vinegar fish bones to obediently soften? In fact, this is not the case.
First of all, the acidity of the edible vinegar bought on the market is actually not so high, and the vinegar we drink only stays in the throat for a few seconds, and it is not time to "play a role" at all. To make matters worse, the acids in vinegar can also irritate and burn the already injured mucous membrane of your throat, making you not only fail to solve the problem of fish bones, but also make the pain worse.
Swallow rice and steamed buns? Be careful, the more you swallow, the worse it gets!
Another more popular "local method" is to eat a large bite of rice or steamed buns, thinking that this will wrap the fish bones and swallow them directly into the stomach. If a fish bone stuck in the throat is only shallowly stuck in the top layer of the throat or esophagus, forcibly swallowing the rice may push the fish bone deeper into the area.
And, if the fish bones are stuck in the lower part of the esophagus, which is close to the trachea and major arteries, in case a bite of rice pushes the fish bones into a more dangerous area, it may puncture important blood vessels. This kind of situation has not happened before, and this kind of tragedy of "saving lives instead of killing" is often reported in the news.
Other weird remedies? It's all a trap!
In addition to drinking vinegar and swallowing rice, there are also many strange home remedies circulating among the folk, such as letting you contain some vitamin C tablets, or drinking some lemonade, and you feel that sour things can "melt" the fish bones. These methods are the same principle as drinking vinegar, but they are also ineffective.
There are also some rumors that you will be asked to slap your back, but in fact, if the fish bones are stuck in a deeper place, blind back slapping may further stimulate the fish bones to pierce deeper.
In summary, these "local methods" may seem simple, but they often come with potential risks, not only do not solve the problem, but can also make the situation more complicated. If you really encounter the situation of fish bones stuck in the throat, don't believe these long-term "home remedies", let alone operate blindly, scientific and safe treatment methods are the right choice.
2. How dangerous is a fish bone stuck in the throat?
Many people think that fish bones are stuck in the throat, and they think that they can be solved by forbearance, swallowing a few saliva, or using some "soil methods". Don't underestimate this little fish bone, if it is not handled well, it can cause you unexpected trouble, and may even be life-threatening.
Depending on the location of the bones, the risks vary greatly
The most common places where fish bones get stuck in the throat are the throat and esophagus, if they are stuck in the throat, they are relatively "lucky", although they will be painful, but in most cases, the fish bones are easier to see, and it is relatively easy to remove.
However, the problem is complicated if the fish bones penetrate deep into the esophagus, and if the fish bones penetrate the upper or middle part of the esophagus, they can puncture the wall of the esophagus, causing infection and inflammation, or even leading to a perforation of the esophagus. At this point, you may find it more difficult to swallow and even have chest pain.
The lower esophagus is the most dangerous area because it is close to the aorta and can cause massive bleeding if a fish bone accidentally punctures a large blood vessel. In this case, the bleeding is very fast, often unexpected, and the consequences are extremely serious.
Mishandling can exacerbate the problem
Many people are reluctant to go to the hospital when they encounter fish bones stuck in their throats, thinking that they can solve it by themselves using the "local method". For example, swallowing rice, drinking vinegar, and coughing mentioned earlier may not only not help, but may push the fish bones deeper or worsen the wound. In some cases, the fish bones were pierced deeper due to improper treatment, and subsequent surgery was required to remove them.
Drinking vinegar can corrode already injured mucous membranes, swallowing rice can make fish bones pierce deeper, and coughing too hard can trigger esophageal spasms.
Small children who get stuck in fish bones are more dangerous
Children are at high risk of fish bones getting stuck in their throats because their throats and esophagus are narrower than in adults, and once the fish bones get stuck, the symptoms can be more severe. Moreover, children are young and do not know how to describe their discomfort, and often wait until the pain is severe for parents to find out about the problem.
For children, if the fish bones are stuck, do not try to cough or swallow food, and should take the child to the hospital as soon as possible to be dealt with by a professional doctor.
Pay attention to the signal of fish bones stuck in the throat and seek medical attention in time
If you experience persistent pain in your throat or chest, difficulty swallowing, or even start to develop a fever or difficulty breathing, it could mean that the fish bones have caused inflammation or infection, and may even have pierced your esophagus or entered other vital organs. At this time, any "local method" will not help, and it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible to seek professional help.
Although the fish bone is small, it can cause a lot of trouble. Paying attention to the danger of fish bones getting stuck in the throat and choosing the right way to deal with them is the key to protecting your health.
3. Correct treatment of fish bones stuck in the throat
In fact, fish bones stuck in the throat are not so scary, the key is to treat it calmly and take the right approach. By following these steps, you will not only reduce the pain, but also avoid making things worse.
Stop eating, don't swallow hard
The moment the fish bones are stuck, the most taboo thing is to continue eating. In fact, this practice often only pushes the bones deeper and increases the severity of the stuck throat. The deeper the stuck, the worse the pain and the more troublesome it is to deal with. Therefore, when you encounter a fish bone stuck, the first step is to stop the food in your hand, stop swallowing hard, and give yourself a little time to judge the situation.
Try coughing lightly and don't push too hard
If you feel that the fish bone may not be stuck deep or even feel like it is still resting in the upper part of your throat, try coughing gently. However, be careful not to cough too hard, as too hard may cause the fish bones to pierce deeper or cause other irritation in the throat. If coughing a few times doesn't work, stop forcing yourself to keep coughing to avoid further damage.
Can you see fish bones? Try using tweezers
If the location of the fish bone is shallow and can be seen with the naked eye, you can ask the person around you to help carefully remove it with sterilized tweezers. It is important to note that this process should be very gentle and do not force the pulling, so as not to break the fish bones or cause more serious damage to the throat.
Can't figure it out on your own? Seek medical attention as soon as possible
If the bones are stuck deep, or if several methods have not worked, the wisest option is to go to the hospital in time. The doctor has the equipment and experience to help you remove the fish bones more safely and efficiently. Especially if you feel a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or even symptoms such as chest pain and fever, it is important not to delay and seek medical help immediately.
4. Practical tips to avoid fish bones stuck in the throat
Every time I eat fish, someone is always stuck and uncomfortable, and even forced to run to the hospital. In fact, instead of waiting until the fish bone gets stuck in the throat and then find a way to solve it, it is better to prevent it from the source. Mastering a few practical tips can greatly reduce the risk of getting stuck in the fish bones, giving you more peace of mind while enjoying the delicious food.
Many times, fish bones get stuck in the throat because they eat too quickly and don't notice that there are still spines hidden in the fish. When eating fish, try to slow down the pace and savor each bite carefully. Not only will you be able to enjoy the flavor of the fish better, but it will also give you more time to sense whether there are any bones in your mouth. In particular, fish bones are smaller, and chewing them more finely will help you detect the fish bones before they enter your throat and handle them carefully.
Some fish have more bones, others have fewer bones, so choose fish with fewer bones, such as sea bass, cod or carp. The spines of these fish are relatively large, which makes them easy to remove and more comfortable to eat.
If you're making your own fish, you can pick the spines carefully before cooking, especially if you're going to serve them to small children, and be sure to remove as many spines as possible. When picking fish bones, you can use some small tools, such as professional fish bone tweezers, to handle small fish bones more precisely. When eating fish in this way, you don't have to worry about the spines suddenly "breaking through", which is both safe and worry-free.
Sometimes I want to eat fish, but I am afraid that the fish bones will get stuck, what should I do? In fact, there are many fish processed dishes that have been specially processed with fish bones, such as some thornless fish fillets, fish balls, fish cakes, etc. Especially when there are children or elderly people at home, this kind of thornless fish is a good choice.
If you are eating out, you can check the fish dishes on the menu in advance and choose those fish dishes with few spines or those whose spines have been removed, which will not only make you feel safe, but also greatly reduce the chance of getting stuck in your throat.
The environment in which you eat fish is also important. Try to avoid eating fish in a noisy environment, and the quiet atmosphere allows you to concentrate on enjoying your food and reduce the chance of distractions. Also, don't talk while eating, as it's easy for the fish bones to slip down your throat inadvertently.
References:
Fish bones stuck in the throat, stop using "local methods" such as swallowing rice and drinking vinegar! Tell you the right way to do it
2021-10-16 Minfukang
If a fish bone gets stuck in your throat, stop drinking vinegar or swallowing rice! It is recommended to try this method, it is safe and effective!
2023-10-16Beiqing.com