[ELI5] When you accidentally inhale something, like water or food, and you cough it mostly up and are fine, how does the rest get out of your lungs and how do you not get pneumonia?

Question

[ELI5] When you accidentally inhale something, like water or food, and you cough it mostly up and are fine, how does the rest get out of your lungs and how do you not get pneumonia?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Your lungs are full of mucous. There are little hairs in your airways that push the mucous out, which picks up most of the basteria and liquid you might swallow. If you get water actually in your lungs, you can only hope to cough it out. It will evaporate over time too, but you’ll have less lung capacity in the meantime and be at higher risk of pneumonia.

If it’s not water, it may stay in your lungs forever.