What is an effective method to relieve choking in adults?

Performing abdominal thrusts is recognized as an effective method to relieve choking in adults. This technique involves using quick, inward and upward thrusts directed at the abdomen, which creates pressure in the chest and dislodges the obstruction from the airway. The mechanism of action relies on the sudden increase in air pressure within the lungs, which can expel the object causing the choking, whether it's food or another foreign object.

While back blows and the Heimlich maneuver—which is often interchangeably referred to as the abdominal thrusts—may also assist in alleviating choking, the question specifically highlights abdominal thrusts as the primary method recommended in adults. It is crucial to apply the appropriate technique carefully and ensure the person choking is in a position conducive to these maneuvers, typically standing or seated. The choice of this method is aligned with guidelines from health authorities for adult choking emergencies, emphasizing that when someone is unable to breathe, talk, or cough, immediate intervention using abdominal thrusts should be the priority until help arrives or the obstruction is resolved.