3.17

Question 1

What is the choking game?

Answer 1

to self-strangulation or strangulation by another person with the hands or a ligature to produce a euphoric state caused by cerebral hypoxia

Question 2

What happens if you don’t release pressure just prior to loss of consciousness?

Answer 2

YOU DEAD

Question 3

What is Autoerotic Asphyxia?

Answer 3

is a similar activity that involves choking oneself during sexual stimulation in order to heighten the sexual pleasure

Question 4

What are some motivating factors for the choking game?

Answer 4

peer pressure, risk or thrill seeking behavior, and the possibility of a drug-free “high.”

Question 5

What are the pathophysiological mechanisms of the choking game?

Answer 5

cerebral hypoxia and hyperperfusion, cerebral vascular engorgement, decreased cardiac output and hypercarbia. When the pressure is released, there may be a secondary “high” related to the rush of blood and oxygen to the brain

Question 6

What Sx might bring a pt into the office because they are doing the choking game?

Answer 6

recurrent confusional episodes and seizure-like events, syncope, paroxysmal episodes of altered awareness, acute vision changes or visual loss

Question 7

What are some warning signs that some1 is playing the choking game?

Answer 7

unexplained bruising or red marks on the neck, bloodshot eyes, petechiae on the face, frequent headaches, disorientation, increased irritability or hostility etc.