Have you ever been in such a deep slip and ended up waking coughing? Chances are, you choked on your own saliva. Yes, it is very much possible. Saliva is a clear liquid produced by your salivary glands that play a crucial role in digestion and oral health. This is because it washes away bacteria and food particles. The body on an average produces about 1 to 2 litres of saliva daily, and a lot of it is swallowed unconsciously. However, when saliva does not flow smoothly down the throat, it can lead to choking, which can be uncomfortable.

Here's all that you need to know about what causes it, and how can you prevent it.

How to recognize the symptoms of choking on saliva?

This happens when the muscles that are responsible for swallowing weaken or malfunction due to health issues and the symptoms may include:

• Gagging and coughing without eating or drinking
• Gasping for air
• Inability to breathe or speak
• Waking up coughing or gagging

What are the common reasons? Why does it happen?

Some of the common reasons include:

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid travels back into the esophagus and mouth, irritating the esophagus and increasing saliva production to neutralize the acid. This buildup of saliva can lead to choking.

Other symptoms of acid reflux:

• Heartburn
• Chest pain
• Nausea

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Acid reflux can be diagnosed via endoscopy or X-rays. Treatment includes antacids to reduce stomach acid.

Sleep-related Swallowing Disorders

When you are sleeping, some abnormal swallowing can occur during that time and it may cause saliva to pool in the mouth and flow into the lungs. This is what leads to choking. This condition is often linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes breathing to pause during sleep.

What are the treatment options?

CPAP machines to provide continuous airflow

Oral mouth guards to keep the airway open

Lesions or Tumors in the Throat

Growths in the throat, whether benign or cancerous, can narrow the esophagus and impede swallowing.

Symptoms to Watch For:

• Visible lump in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Sore throat

Treatment:

Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, depending on the nature of the growth.

Dentures That Don't Fit

Dentures can confuse the brain into perceiving them as food and it may trigger excess saliva production and cause choking. The best way to work this out is by consulting a dentist for proper fitting and adjustment of dentures.

Neurological Disorders

Conditions like Parkinson’s disease and ALS can impair the nerves that control swallowing.

Additional Symptoms:

• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Difficulty speaking

Treatment:

Doctors may prescribe medication to reduce saliva production or teach swallowing techniques.

Heavy Alcohol Use

Excessive alcohol consumption can relax throat muscles, allowing saliva to pool and cause choking.

Prevention Tip:

Moderate alcohol intake and sleep with your head elevated.

Talking Excessively

Speaking continuously without pausing to swallow can lead to saliva entering the windpipe.

Prevention:

Take pauses to swallow while talking.

Allergies or Respiratory Problems

Thickened saliva or mucus due to allergies or infections can obstruct the throat, especially during sleep.

Additional Symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Sneezing

Treatment:

Antihistamines, cold medication, or antibiotics may be prescribed, depending on the underlying cause.

How can you prevent choking from saliva?

In case of sleep apnea, sleep with your head elevated or on your side. You can also try and avoid lying flat right after eating and eat smaller meals to prevent acid reflux. It is also important that you sip water throughout the day to clear any saliva buildup. In severe cases, use over-the-counter medicines for allergies or consult a healthcare provider.

The human body thrives on essential metals, but excessive exposure can cause a variety of issues for them in the long run, and this very fact has come to light in a recent study done by a research team at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. The paper reveals the detrimental impact of getting exposed to toxic metals early in life.

Drs. Manish Arora, Elza Rechtman, and Megan Horton at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital thoroughly studied the mental effects in infants after early exposure to toxic metals. The study was published in Science Advances.

The research team studied the teeth of 489 infants aged 8 to 14 years old. As teeth grow in layers, and each layer can provide data on metal exposure, the researchers measured exposure to lead, lithium, barium, copper, manganese, magnesium, tin, zinc, and strontium.

The study also monitored 395 children for symptoms relating to anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and attention, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine 191 children.

Metals like zinc, magnesium, and manganese are very important for growth and health, but overexposure to these metals in children can cause harm.

Childhood is the time for mental growth in children, but this is the same time span when they get exposed to toxic metals as well. From food to inhaling tobacco smoke or exposure through touch, there are many ways a child gets near those adversarial metals and causes harm to themselves.

The results of the study show that exposure to heavy metals mainly happens between 6 and 9 months after birth. They also claim that the excessive metal exposures during key periods of brain development can have long-lasting effects.

Also Read: How To Get Rid Of Heavy Metals In Your Body?

How To Detox From Heavy Metals?

Reducing exposure to heavy metals can be achieved through simple lifestyle and dietary changes. This includes switching to greener diets and replacing household products. High-quality fish can help minimize mercury ingestion, while cilantro, seaweed, and leafy greens are known to trap and remove toxins from the body. Aluminium-free deodorants and titanium-free makeup and toothpaste are also recommended.

For a more intensive detox, using high-quality supplements alongside drinking at least two litres of water daily can help flush heavy metals. Armistead explains that these supplements aid the body in moving heavy metals from cells to the lymphatic system, which then transports them into the bloodstream for filtration by the liver and kidneys. The toxins are ultimately excreted via urine or bowels.

Even as climate change is driving mosquitoes north, a new study warned that Europe and North America can be new hotspots for the chikungunya virus.

Alarmingly, the research indicated that 139 countries face risk, covering 21.26 per cent of global land area for chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease.

Further, the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology suggest that climate-driven vector expansion has significantly broadened the geographic scope of the CHIKV threat.

“We show that under climate change models, the virus will further expand northward into temperate regions, especially northeastern North America, central Europe, and East Asia,” said Dr Ye Xu, from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, China.

Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

How Climate Is Linked To Mosquito Behavior?

Also Read: Climate Change Fueled Rising Salmonella Drug Resistance Over Decades: The Lancet Study

As the primary vectors of chikungunya, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are highly influenced by climate conditions.

These mosquitoes thrive in warm and humid environments, with temperature playing a major role in their breeding, survival, and ability to spread the virus.

The rising temperatures can accelerate larval development, increase mosquito reproduction, and shorten the virus’s incubation period inside the mosquito, making transmission more efficient.

In the study, the researchers explained that stable temperature patterns and seasonal variations are especially important for Aedes aegypti. The species is highly sensitive to colder temperatures, with egg hatching rates dropping significantly at around 12°C. This limits how far the mosquito can spread into cooler regions.

However, climate change and warming temperatures are making previously unsuitable regions in Europe and North America more favorable for these mosquito species, raising concerns about the growing risk of chikungunya outbreaks, the team said.

“Because this mosquito can tolerate cooler conditions better than the yellow fever mosquito, warming may allow it to establish in places that used to be too cold,” said Dr Yang Wu, Guangzhou Customs Technology Center, China.

“When suitable mosquitoes become established, the chance of local chikungunya transmission increases.”

Global Chikungunya Cases

Read More: 16 Million Indians Die Due To Hypertension Every Year: AIIMS Doc

In 2025, there were 502,264 reported chikungunya cases globally, accounting for 186 deaths across 41 countries and territories, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

This disease burden is projected to escalate under climate change, which is profoundly altering the distribution patterns of infectious diseases, the researchers noted.

“The public does not need to panic, but health systems should prepare early,” warned Dr Xu.

The researchers recommended that these regions implement proactive entomological surveillance and adaptive public health infrastructure by 2040 to mitigate the threat of emerging arboviral epidemics.

Among the proposed measures, researchers include

• tracking mosquitoes,
• training healthcare workers to quickly recognise the virus,
• strengthening mosquito control,
• setting up rapid-response plans before outbreaks occur.

Chikungunya Symptoms You Should Know

Most symptoms are generally self-limiting and last for 2–3 days. The disease is characterized by

• an abrupt onset of fever,
• joint pain
• muscle pain,
• headache,
• nausea,
• fatigue
• rash.

In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in heart-related risks among Indians in their 20s. In the past, heart disease was mainly a problem of old age, but the changing lifestyles, poor eating habits, and rising stress levels have changed this trend. This has increased the number of doctors recommending a calcium heart scan also called a coronary calcium scan, even for young adults.

What Is A Calcium Heart Scan?

A calcium heart scan is a quick painless imaging test that checks for calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. These deposits are one of the earliest signs of atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries and restricts the flow of blood.

The significance of this test is that it can uncover hidden risk even before symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness appear.

Why Young Indians Are At Higher Risk

Young Indians face multiple risk factors today. Sedentary lifestyles long working hours also lack of physical activity, smoking and increased intake of processed foods are major contributors. Ailments like diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension are also being seen at a much younger age.

Family history also matters a lot especially in the Indian population who are genetically more prone to early heart disease.

The worry is that many young people seem healthy on routine tests but may still have silent plaque build-up. This is where a calcium score is useful. The higher the score, the more likely you are to have future heart problems, and doctors can take early steps to prevent them such as lifestyle changes or medication.

Why Early Screening Matters

Another important point is that heart attacks in young Indians are often more sudden and severe. This makes early screening all the more important. Calcium heart scans don’t replace your routine check-up, but they do provide an extra level of insight in helping to identify hidden cardiovascular risk.

This scan is not about instilling fear but about early awareness and prevention. Heart disease if found early can often be controlled or prevented. This small step can help to protect young adults with risk factors for long term heart health.

(By Dr. Surendra Nath Khanna, Chairperson, Adult Cardiac Surgery & Heart - Lung Transplant at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram).