--- title: What Causes Airway Obstruction? description: Here are possible causes of airway obstruction. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/what%20causes%20airway%20obstruction.jpg --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [What Causes Airway Obstruction?](https://blog.sscor.com/what-causes-airway-obstruction) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) May 17, 2025 8:00:00 AM 3 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/what-causes-airway-obstruction#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/what-causes-airway-obstruction#) 0 ![what causes airway obstruction](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/what%20causes%20airway%20obstruction.jpg?width=600&name=what%20causes%20airway%20obstruction.jpg)   You’re responding to a choking involving an obstruction. As you know, obstructions can be mild, making breathing difficult or painful, or they can be urgent and life-threatening, as is the case with a choking child.   So [what causes airway obstructions](https://blog.sscor.com/what-are-the-most-common-causes-of-upper-airway-obstruction)? Anything that [occludes the airway](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470562/) in full or in part, can cause an obstruction. The most common causes include:   ## **Infections** Infections such as the flu and pneumonia are major contributors to airway obstructions, especially in the elderly and children under the age of 4. When a person has a second medical condition such as asthma or COPD, infections pose a more urgent risk to the airway.   [![New: Ultimate Guide To Purchasing A Portable Emergency Suction Device](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/55c49bab-8acd-48d9-a274-d480a9b3e678.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/55c49bab-8acd-48d9-a274-d480a9b3e678)   ## **Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease** COPD, often due to smoking, narrows and inflames the airway. This can cause an obstruction that is [not fully reversible](https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/297664-overview) and that makes breathing steadily more difficult. Because the airway is already narrow, patients with COPD face a higher risk of morbidities and mortality when they contract infections.   ## **Asthma**  In most people with asthma, airway obstructions are temporary and minor. However, during moments of stress, an asthma attack is more likely. So it’s important to treat all patients with asthma as potential airway obstruction patients. Moreover, severe asthma attacks can prove lethal, especially in the absence of a respiratory inhaler and in vulnerable populations. This makes it important to always ask about a history of asthma.   ## **Choking**  Choking can fully obstruct the airway. Sometimes, the airway obstruction is partial and the person can still breathe. But if the object moves even slightly or the airway swells, your patient can choke in a matter of minutes.  A related emergency, aspiration, happens when a person inhales fluids such as vomit or water. Aspiration [can obstruct the airway](https://blog.sscor.com/the-importance-of-suction-in-pulmonary-aspiration-emergencies), but it’s more likely to cause injuries via the introduction of contaminated fluids to the lungs.   ## **Cancers and Other Growths** A wide range of growths, including tumors of the throat, very large lipomas in the neck, and abscesses in the nose, mouth, or throat [can obstruct the airway](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470562/). When a person experiences another airway obstruction, such as a swollen airway due to COPD or inflammation due to pneumonia, these obstructions can become life-threatening.   ## **Allergic Reactions**  Allergic reactions can cause the airway to quickly swell and even close. These airway obstructions are emergencies that demand immediate treatment—usually with epinephrine. [Anaphylactic reactions](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8619-anaphylaxis) typically appear quickly, within 30 minutes of exposure. However, some people experience secondary anaphylaxis 12 hours to 24 hours after the first reaction.    ## **Traumatic Airway Injuries**  Traumatic injuries to the airway can cause the airway to swell and undermine breathing. First responders should note that iatrogenic injuries—often sustained in an attempt to clear another airway obstruction—are common. It’s critical to proceed slowly and carefully, to only work on an airway you can see, and to use an appropriately sized catheter. Sudden bleeding or swelling may indicate an injury due to airway suctioning.   **[![New: Determining the Contents of Your First-In Bag: What Every Paramedic Should Consider. Free Guide & Checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/bb7f2de5-6d9a-4d03-ab05-2f80845478d7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/bb7f2de5-6d9a-4d03-ab05-2f80845478d7)**   ## **Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries** Traumatic injuries to the brain and spinal cord do not directly induce airway obstructions. Rather, these injuries can impede a patient’s ability to clear their own airway, make it more difficult to safely swallow food, or cause patients to adopt positions that increase the likelihood of an obstruction.   The [right equipment saves lives](https://www.sscor.com/). Portable emergency suction allows you to go directly to the patient, rather than trying to move a potentially vulnerable person. Effective suctioning quickly clears the airway while reducing the risk of iatrogenic injuries.   To find the right portable emergency suction device for your agency, download our free guide, [The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Portable Emergency Suction Device](https://info.sscor.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-purchasing-a-portable-emergency-suction-device).   *Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in October 2022. It has been re-published with additional up-to-date content.* Topics: [airway obstruction](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-obstruction) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. 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