A 34-year-old man is saying he is choking and shows signs of stridor and hoarseness. What should you do?

Encouraging the patient to cough is the most appropriate response in this scenario, as it allows him to utilize his own reflexes to expel the obstruction. When a person is able to cough effectively, it indicates that their airway is not completely blocked and they can still generate enough air to potentially dislodge the object causing the choking.

Coughing can help create the necessary pressure in the airway to push the obstructing item out. In cases where the patient is showing signs of mild obstruction (such as stridor, which indicates that the airway is partially obstructed but not completely blocked), encouraging them to continue coughing is vital. It is important to recognize that individuals who are able to cough and breathe, even with stridor and hoarseness, should be encouraged to clear the obstruction themselves.

In contrast, other options would not be suitable given the situation. Abdominal thrusts would be warranted if the airway were completely obstructed and the patient were unable to cough or breathe. Inserting an airway or starting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation would be inappropriate if the patient can still cough and does not require immediate resuscitative measures. Thus, by promoting coughing, you are facilitating the patient's ability to clear the obstruction safely and effectively.