When tiny particles of food "go down the wrong way" (we've all experienced this problem), you merely cough it up. You may be embarrassed, but no true harm is done. However, such occurrences can be dangerous for elderly people.Sometimes, a frail older person cannot cough up the tiny pieces of food they inhaled (or their own vomit); as a result, they develop aspiration pneumonia.

Inhaled stomach acid and vomit create a breeding ground for lung infection. Running a fever, coughing up blood-tinged sputum, choking while swallowing, difficult breathing, or chest pain signals that a case of life-threatening aspiration pneumonia may have taken hold. Antibiotics and oxygen therapy are the standard treatment.

Occasionally, the pieces of food are not so minuscule -- like a hunk of bread or a piece of meat. These bigger obstacles block the airway and deprive the brain of oxygen. Brain damage or death can occur if the food is not dislodged and expelled. Choking is most likely to occur when someone is eating too fast, talking while chewing, or consuming alcohol. Here's where the Heimlich maneuver can save the day.