No gag reflex asian10/30/2023 An older study suggests that applying pressure to the palm may change a person’s trigger point.Īnecdotal evidence also suggests that if a person closes their left hand over their left thumb and applies gentle pressure, it may stop them from gagging. AcupressureĪcupressure involves putting pressure on certain parts of the body to encourage it to self-heal and self-regulate. Some of these techniques include: AcupunctureĪ 2015 study suggests that acupuncture may help alleviate a sensitive gag reflex in a short time. Instead of trying to stop their body’s natural response, a person with a sensitive gag reflex may consider using techniques to desensitize or pause it when necessary. These may include anxiety about the procedure, the dentist touching physical trigger points, the taste of the dentist’s gloves, and the sound of dental tools. This combination of psychogenic and somatogenic stimuli can explain why some people may gag only under certain circumstances.įor example, a person may not gag when engaging in their own oral hygiene but might gag when a dentist performs it due to multiple triggers being present at the dentist’s office. A person may, therefore, also gag due to certain sights, sounds, and smells. Physical and mental stimuli can be separate events or happen at the same time. Somatogenic and psychogenic stimuli combined Therefore, a person may gag when experiencing an unpleasant thought. Generally, a psychogenic stimulus is a response to disgust. PsychogenicĪ psychogenic stimulus is a mental trigger that causes a person to gag. Some people may gag from a very gentle touch on a trigger point, while others may be able to tolerate a more intense sensation before gagging. In this instance, the gag reflex is an attempt to prevent a person from choking or swallowing something potentially dangerous.Īlthough trigger points in the mouth may vary, a gag reflex will typically occur when something stimulates the base of the tongue, the uvula, or the tonsil area. The activation of a trigger point causes nerve signals to pass to the brain, which then signals the pharynx to contract. In relation to oral trigger points, this may be a large piece of food or a foreign object. SomatogenicĪ somatogenic stimulus is one that physically makes direct contact with a trigger point. All rights reserved.Two types of stimuli can trigger a gag reflex: somatogenic and psychogenic. This has important implications for airway management decisions.Ĭopyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. However, a considerable proportion of patients with a GCS≤8 have intact airway reflexes and may be capable of maintaining their own airway, whilst many patients with a GCS>8 have impaired airway reflexes and may be at risk of aspiration. Our study has shown that in a Chinese population with a wide range of critical illness (but little trauma or intoxication), reduced GCS is significantly related to gag and cough reflexes. In patients with a normal GCS, 22.1% (25/113) had absent gag reflexes and 25.7% (29) had absent cough reflexes. 23/62 (37.1%) patients with a GCS of 9-14 had absent gag reflexes, and 27 (43.5%) had absent cough reflexes. Of 33 patients with a GCS≤8, 12 (36.4%) had normal gag reflexes and 8 (24.2%) had normal cough reflexes. Reduced gag and cough reflexes were found to be significantly related to reduced GCS (p=0.014 and 0.002, respectively). Reflexes were classified as normal, attenuated or absent.Ī total of 208 patients were recruited. A long cotton bud to stimulate the posterior pharyngeal wall (gag reflex) and a soft tracheal suction catheter were introduced through the mouth to stimulate the laryngopharynx and elicit the cough reflex. Prospective observational study of adult patients requiring treatment in the trauma or resuscitation rooms of the Emergency Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. To describe the relationship of gag and cough reflexes to Glasgow coma score (GCS) in Chinese adults requiring critical care.
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