Which of the following is NOT a type of asphyxia?

• A. Choking
• B. Suffocation
• C. Strangulation
• D. Drowning

Answer: (A)

Asphyxia refers to a situation where the body can’t get enough oxygen. The classic categories describe how the oxygen supply is interrupted: suffocation blocks air at the mouth/nose or in the environment, strangulation involves external compression of the neck that stops airflow (and often blood flow), and drowning occurs when immersion prevents the person from breathing air. Choking is the blockage of the airway by a foreign object, which can lead to asphyxia, but it’s considered a mechanism of airway obstruction rather than a separate category of asphyxia. That’s why choking is not listed as a distinct type of asphyxia.