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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Sweating Body After Recovering From Choked Ham And Fainting A Cause For Concern?

The day before yesterday my 84 year old grandfather had choked on a piece of ham at breakfast. Apparently he stopped breathing for 10 mins. He is now on life support his vitals are perfect. His heart is fine and everything else is working fine. But now he is sweating. Is that a good sign?
posted on Wed, 15 Jul 2015
Twitter Mon, 27 Jul 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 28 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi, welcome to HCM. Thanks for asking your query at this forum.
We understand your concern. I have read your question carefully and understood it. I will try my best to answer it.

As you said, your grandfather had a choking episode causing stopped respiration (so without oxygenation to brain) for about 10 minutes. This is a potentially dangerous situation, as brain tissue can not sustain without oxygen for more than 2-3 minutes. If it continues more than that then it causes irreversible damage to brain. Apparently your grandfather had suffered the same causing anoxic injury to brain stem (lower part of brain where vital center for respiration, cardiac activity, temperature regulation and many other autonomic functions are present). Afterwards he had to be put on life support system as body's original system was not working.
Sweating is another sign that points towards autonomic dysfunction due to brain stem dysfunction.

Certainly the situation is not OK and your grandfather may require life support for prolonged period.

You need to be cautious. I wish a better health to your grandfather.
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Is Sweating Body After Recovering From Choked Ham And Fainting A Cause For Concern?

Hi, welcome to HCM. Thanks for asking your query at this forum. We understand your concern. I have read your question carefully and understood it. I will try my best to answer it. As you said, your grandfather had a choking episode causing stopped respiration (so without oxygenation to brain) for about 10 minutes. This is a potentially dangerous situation, as brain tissue can not sustain without oxygen for more than 2-3 minutes. If it continues more than that then it causes irreversible damage to brain. Apparently your grandfather had suffered the same causing anoxic injury to brain stem (lower part of brain where vital center for respiration, cardiac activity, temperature regulation and many other autonomic functions are present). Afterwards he had to be put on life support system as body s original system was not working. Sweating is another sign that points towards autonomic dysfunction due to brain stem dysfunction. Certainly the situation is not OK and your grandfather may require life support for prolonged period. You need to be cautious. I wish a better health to your grandfather.