Final answer:
The airway can be blocked physically during an asthma attack, by choking on small objects or certain foods, due to diseases like emphysema and pulmonary edema, or from obstructive sleep apnea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of the airway being physically blocked can include situations such as during an asthma attack, where airways narrow and may become clogged with mucus, making breathing difficult.
Additionally, young children are prone to choking on small objects and foods like bananas and marshmallows that can mold to the shape of the pharynx. Choking can cause a mechanical obstruction of airflow, leading to partial or complete choking and potentially asphyxia.
Other obstructive conditions include emphysema, where the alveoli walls are damaged, reducing gas exchange and increasing air retention, and pulmonary edema, noted for fluid accumulation and airway inflammation.
Obstructive sleep apnea can occur when throat muscles excessively relax or when excess adipose tissue in the neck area narrows the trachea during sleep.