Which term is the inhalation of food or fluid into the lungs?

Which term is the inhalation of food or fluid into the lungs?

• A. Ambulate
• B. Aspiration
• C. Atrophy
• D. Colostomy

Answer: (B)

Aspiration is the inhalation of food or liquid into the lungs. This occurs when swallowing and airway reflexes don’t protect the airway, allowing material to enter the trachea and reach the lungs. It’s important to recognize because it can cause coughing or choking during meals and, over time, lead to aspiration pneumonia, especially in people with swallowing problems, stroke, or reduced consciousness. The other terms don’t apply here: ambulate means to move around, atrophy means wasting away of tissue, and colostomy is a surgical opening created to divert stool. In care settings, preventing aspiration involves proper feeding positions, small bites, and monitoring for coughing or choking during meals.

Aspiration is the inhalation of food or liquid into the lungs. This occurs when swallowing and airway reflexes don’t protect the airway, allowing material to enter the trachea and reach the lungs. It’s important to recognize because it can cause coughing or choking during meals and, over time, lead to aspiration pneumonia, especially in people with swallowing problems, stroke, or reduced consciousness. The other terms don’t apply here: ambulate means to move around, atrophy means wasting away of tissue, and colostomy is a surgical opening created to divert stool. In care settings, preventing aspiration involves proper feeding positions, small bites, and monitoring for coughing or choking during meals.