suffocate

Suffocate is a verb meaning to stop or be prevented from breathing, typically because air cannot reach the lungs. In medical and forensic contexts, sufflication is a form of asphyxia—an inadequate supply of oxygen or an excess of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. The term covers several situations, including airway obstruction, external restriction, and environmental deprivation of breathable air.

Mechanisms include airway obstruction from a foreign object, swelling, or trauma; external compression of the chest or neck; and inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, or oxygen-poor environments. Drowning and immersion in water can also cause suffocation by preventing air intake.

Common contexts involve accidental choking, smothering, or entrapment, as well as exposure to hazardous atmospheres. Forensic investigations determine suffocation as the cause of death by examining airway status, signs of external compression, and environmental evidence.

Symptoms range from shortness of breath, anxiety, and confusion to cyanosis, loss of consciousness, and death in severe cases. Treatment prioritizes ensuring an open airway, providing oxygen, and emergency resuscitation when needed, followed by medical evaluation.

Preventive measures include supervising children, avoiding small swallowable objects, using smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and ensuring safe storage of chemicals and belongings that could cause airway obstruction.