Choking can cause an acquired brain injury (ABI). When something becomes lodged in your throat and cuts off your ability to breathe, this also limits or cuts off the oxygen supply to your brain. When a brain does not get the oxygen it needs, the brain cells begin to die.

How long does it take for choking to cause brain damage?

Brain death will occur in 4 to 5 minutes, if strangulation persists.

How long does it take to get brain damage from lack of oxygen?

Oxygen is needed for the brain to make use of glucose, its major energy source. If the oxygen supply is interrupted, consciousness will be lost within 15 seconds and damage to the brain begins to occur after about four minutes without oxygen.