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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Choking in the Unconscious Adult

Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the injury?

First aid for an unconscious adult who has choked includes the following:

Check for signs of circulation, such as normal breathing, coughing, or movement in response to stimulation.

Contact the emergency medical system immediately.

Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, if the person stops breathing. Use 15 chest compressions for every 2 mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths.

If the person starts breathing, place him or her in a side-lying position and monitor closely.

Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

The chest compressions of CPR can cause vomiting, injuries to internal organs, or broken ribs. Vomiting can be a problem if the vomit is caught in the airway and inhaled into the lungs. There is a possibility that none of the procedures may work, and the person may still choke, remain unconscious, or even die.

What happens after treatment for the injury?

It is important to obtain medical care from a healthcare professional. Occasionally, an object will enter the lung instead of being expelled. This can cause coughing, wheezing, or aspiration pneumonia.

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