Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Hazel on 09/03/2009 21:30:01

Title: Why did choking make my eyes water?
Post by: Hazel on 09/03/2009 21:30:01

Hazel asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hello Chris and your team
 
Can you explain why, when I choked on a piece of food just now [nothing serious!], my eyes began to water?
 
Hazel
What do you think?

Title: Why did choking make my eyes water?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 10/03/2009 02:52:53

Coughing or sneezing clears the throat and nose of irritants, while tears clear the eyes.

Title: Why did choking make my eyes water?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/03/2009 03:41:07

But in this instance the object  or expectorant was caught I her throat not her eyes... I believe that there is a certain amount of pressure at the point air becomes short and th face and eyes strain an are squeezed in an attempt to remove object I think that loss of air etc..may trigger the tear glands pain and instinctual straining for air.....

Then again I am n expert.

Title: Why did choking make my eyes water?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 10/03/2009 06:07:18

Yes, I think you might be correct. I don't know what I was thinking last time. [::)][:I]

Title: Why did choking make my eyes water?
Post by: thedoc on 10/03/2009 19:03:42

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2009.03.08/)

Title: None
Post by: Matt McFarland on 24/10/2011 20:27:01

The coughing itself isn't the cause of the eyes tearing up. Easily proven:  If I let some saliva go back to the very edge of my throat my eyes immediately water up.  I've done this before just to show people how to tear up on demand.  So that throws the coughing theory right out the window.