Unable to breathe because something is blocking the airway, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to speak.
From Old English 'aceocian.' Related to 'choke' meaning to strangle or suppress. The word evolved from physical strangulation to include emotional suppression.
The Heimlich maneuver (1974) saved countless lives, but before that, choking was often fatal—one innovation in understanding the human body changed how we respond to emergencies worldwide.
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