The presence of a fish bone stuck in throat can cause a lot of discomfort and even some concern. Most of the time, the spine is small, so the body itself pushes it without causing tissue damage. However, when the spine is large, there is some risk of a throat injury or even infection. In these cases, it is possible to try to extract the spine very carefully, if it is visible, or go to the hospital to have it extracted correctly if the home techniques do not work.
After the fish bone comes out, it is normal for the throat to become sore and sore, so take a look at some home remedies you can use to relieve a sore throat.
How to remove fish bone stuck in throat?
The techniques that can be used to remove the fish bone stuck in throat are:
1. Eat a banana
A simple way to remove a small fishbone caught in the throat is to eat a banana because it is soft and has a sticky consistency, causing the fish bone to stick to it as it passes through the throat and is pushed into the stomach where gastric juices will dissolve it.
Keep reading: Does ultrasonic cavitation work?
2. Cough
Coughing is the body’s first defense mechanism against alterations in the throat and respiratory tract when coughing. The air exerts enough pressure to move the foreign body that is stuck in the throat, in this case, a fish bone.
So at the moment, it is important to let the reflex occur, as it can help to free the fish bone from the throat, causing a feeling of immediate relief.
3. Eat cooked bread or rice
This technique works in a similar way to the banana. For this, you must grab a piece of bread and then dip it in milk. When it is very wet, you should squeeze it and make a small ball that can be swallowed whole. After swallowing, the breadsticks to the spine and helps push it into the stomach.
Other foods that can be ingested to release the fish bone are well-cooked rice or potatoes since although they are soft, they manage to stick to the fish bone.
4. Drink some olive oil
Unlike water, oil is not easily absorbed and therefore helps to hydrate the throat walls well for longer, being able to cause the natural movements of the esophagus to push the spine out.
So it is better to drink a little oil than water, as it is more lubricating. If you cannot drink pure oil, it is also possible to drink a mixture of water with a little oil.
What not to do?
It is important to avoid using any utensils or even your fingers to remove the fish bone, especially when it is not visible, as these techniques can cause injury to the esophagus wall, causing more discomfort and increasing the risk of causing an infection.
When to see a doctor?
It is important to go to the health post or the hospital emergency whenever the spine cannot be extracted with any of the techniques mentioned above, but also when it arises:
Very severe pain;
Heavy bleeding;
Difficulty breathing.
Generally, the doctor can remove the spine using special forceps. However, in the most difficult cases, it may be necessary to perform a small surgery to remove the spine. In these cases, it is usually not necessary to stay hospitalized since it is a very simple outpatient surgery, in which generally no cuts are made in the skin.
Symptoms
Symptoms that may indicate that you have a fish bone stuck in throat can be a pain, discomfort, and a feeling that something is stuck in your throat. In the most serious cases, they can include blood in the saliva, difficulty in swallowing or breathing. Therefore, if it is not possible to solve the problem at home, it is recommended to go to the nearest hospital or health post.
