Just had dinner with friends. they said a classmate just got diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. i didn't know what to say. why would someone get that?

Choking: Aspiration pneumonia occurs after someone inhales a substance into their lungs and the the resulting inflammation causes a lung infection to develop. This can occur after choking on food, a near-drowning event, severe reflux or certain chemical exposures among other reasons.

Several scenarios: Aspiration pneumonia usually occurs when someone inhales secretions or vomit. This can occur whenever someone has impairment in their level of consiousness and loss of protective airway protecting reflexes. This includes situations like head injury, epileptic seizure, intoxications, posionings, strokes, severe metabolic problems that cause stupor, and the list goes on.