Final answer:
Choking is recognized by signs such as stridor, shortness of breath, inability to speak or make noise, and cyanosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Choking is an emergency situation where the airflow to the lungs is blocked, resulting in respiratory distress. Symptoms include shortness of breath, the inability to speak or cry out, and a high-pitched noise upon inhalation known as stridor. Individuals may also display behaviors such as clutching the neck and experiencing cyanosis, which is the skin turning blue due to lack of oxygen. It is critical to seek immediate medical attention if a person is suspected of choking and exhibiting these signs.
Various conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and allergic reactions can also obstruct the airway leading to similar symptoms like wheezes or stridor, hoarseness, pain with swallowing, cough, and chest tightness. Knowledge of these symptoms and conditions is key to providing prompt aid and avoiding serious complications such as asphyxia, or suffocation.