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 World Health Organization (WHO)'s Montreal meeting focused on wearable technology like smartwatches and activity trackers as a reliable source of health tracking. The meeting discussed that wearables could in fact generate objective real-time data, which helps governments design targeted and evidence-based health interventions.

Physicians in the Montreal meetings discussed that wrist-worn devices are more reliable than traditional self-reported surveys. This is because the self-reported surveys could underestimate the levels of physical inactivity.

“Metrics such as step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time directly correlate with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health outcomes. Having population-level data allows for early and preventive strategies,” said Dr Venkat Nani Kumar, consultant in internal medicine.

WHO Montreal Meeting: How Have Doctors Reacted The Shift To Wearables?

Doctors in India have welcomed this shift to wearable devices as a better way to generate data and make policies. Dr Kiran Madhala, professor at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said WHO’s shift reflects rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital health tools, calling it a progressive step towards improved monitoring of physical activity worldwide.

City-based doctors also underlined the need for inclusive validation of devices. “Wearables must recognise varied movement patterns and step equivalents, especially in ageing populations,” a physician said, while stressing the importance of data privacy and ethical use of health information.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Wearable Health Devices?

As per a 2022 study published in JMIR MHealth and UHealth, wearables refer to devices that are worn by individuals. In health care field, they assist with individual monitoring and diagnosis. Wearables are “seamlessly embedded portable computers...worn on the body," notes another 2018 study published in Telematics Informatics.

A 2018 study published in the journal Sensors noted that wearable health devices are increasingly helping people to better monitor their health status both at an activity/fitness level for self health tracking and at a medical level providing more data to clinicians with a potential for earlier diagnostic and guidance of treatment.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Some Examples Of Wearables?

Blood Pressure Monitor

This is a blood pressure monitor that consists of a cuff that is placed in upper arm with a digital display that provides real time reading of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Glucose Monitoring Device

This device estimates your glucose levels in every few minutes. It can be worn in upper arm, with a phone sensor connected to measure readings. It also includes real time glucose alarms to make informed decisions.

Wearable ECG Monitor

ECG patches are interconnected with smartphones, where one can see their readings. They not only measure electrocardiograms, but also detect any abnormalities.

Fitness Tracker

Smartwatches or fitbits that could be worn on your wrist. They help track real time data of your health, steps, heart rate, calorie consumptions, and even sleep patterns. It can also help keep track of oxygen levels.

Integrated Activewear

These activewears come with microscopic sensors to safeguard wearer's body or assist them in reaching their fitness objective.

Epilepsy affects more than 15 million people in India, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood neurological conditions. Despite being a treatable brain disorder, fear, stigma and long-standing myths continue to delay diagnosis and care, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. Doctors say this lack of awareness often causes more harm than the condition itself.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological disorders. The WHO also estimates that up to 70 per cent of people with epilepsy can live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. Yet, in low- and middle-income countries, almost three-fourths of patients do not receive the treatment they need.

What Really Happens During a Seizure

Dr Madhukar Bhardwaj, Director and Head of Neurology at Aakash Healthcare, explains that epilepsy occurs due to a sudden disturbance in the brain’s electrical activity. “A seizure happens when the brain’s electrical signals stop working normally for a short time,” he says.

This can cause a wide range of symptoms, from jerking movements and falling unconscious to staring spells or brief confusion. “Some seizures last just a few seconds and may go unnoticed, while others can be severe,” Dr Bhardwaj adds.

Breaking Dangerous and Persistent Myths

Despite medical clarity, myths around epilepsy remain deeply rooted. Dr Bhardwaj points out that many people still believe epilepsy is caused by ghosts, black magic, or divine punishment. “Others think it spreads by touch or that people with epilepsy cannot study, work or get married,” he says.

One of the most dangerous misconceptions is putting an object into a person’s mouth during a seizure. “This is completely false and can seriously injure the patient,” Dr Bhardwaj warns. Doctors stress that epilepsy should be treated like any other chronic condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, not as a social taboo.

Understanding the Real Causes of Epilepsy

Dr Neha Kapoor, Associate Director and Head of Neurology at Asian Hospital, says epilepsy does not have one single cause. “In many cases, we are unable to find an exact reason,” she explains. However, known causes include genetic factors, head injuries from accidents, brain infections like meningitis, strokes, and other forms of brain damage.

In children, epilepsy may result from lack of oxygen at birth or abnormal brain development before birth. Dr Kapoor also clarifies a common misunderstanding: “Stress, lack of sleep, and alcohol can trigger seizures, but they are not the root cause of epilepsy.”

Why Epilepsy Often Goes Undiagnosed

Not all seizures look dramatic, which leads to frequent delays in diagnosis. “Not all seizures involve shaking,” says Dr Praveen Gupta, Chairman at Marengo Asia International Institute of Neuro and Spine (MAIINS). “Some look like daydreaming or sudden confusion, which is why epilepsy is often missed.”

Dr Gupta notes that many patients reach specialists very late due to fear and misinformation. “With timely treatment, most people with epilepsy can live completely normal lives,” he says.

Advanced Treatment and Surgical Options

Nearly 70 per cent of epilepsy patients can control seizures with regular medication, according to doctors. For those who do not respond to medicines, known as drug-resistant epilepsy, advanced treatment options are now available in India.

“Epilepsy surgery is being used successfully,” Dr Gupta explains. “We carefully identify the part of the brain causing seizures and treat it safely. This can greatly reduce or even stop seizures.” He adds that modern surgical and neuro-robotic techniques are changing outcomes and offering renewed hope.

Addressing Sexual Health and Quality of Life

Epilepsy can also affect aspects of life that are rarely discussed, including sexual health. Dr Vineet Malhotra, Principal Consultant at SCM Healthcare, says seizures, stress and some anti-seizure medications may impact energy levels, hormones and sexual desire in men.

“However, these issues are manageable,” Dr Malhotra says. “With counselling, lifestyle changes and medication adjustments, patients can lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives.”

Doctors agree that awareness, early diagnosis and breaking myths are key to ensuring epilepsy is treated as what it truly is, a manageable medical condition, not a social label.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, also called an arrhythmia and can create blood clots in the heart, which can increase your risk of having a stroke by five times.

When a person has AFib, the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart (the two atria) is irregular and blood doesn't flow as well as it should from the atria to the lower chambers of the heart (the two ventricles).

In this case, the risk of developing blood clots in your heart increases, which can not only cause a heart attack but also damage vital organs such as your brain. An AFib may happen in brief episodes, or it may be a permanent condition.

Common symptoms include palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats), chest pain, finding it harder to exercise, tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness or feeling faint.

READ MORE: You Can Stop A Heart Attack With This Medicine, Cardiologist Reveals Heart Attack 101

The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

Over 454,000 people with AFib are hospitalized in the US each year, out of which 158,000 die of the cause. It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in the US will have AFib by 2050.

Who Is At Risk Of Having AFib?

• Advancing age.
• High blood pressure.
• Obesity.
• European ancestry.
• Diabetes.
• Heart failure.
• Ischemic heart disease.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Moderate to heavy alcohol use.
• Smoking.
• Enlargement of the chambers on the left side of the heart.

Treatment for AFib includes medications to control the heart's rhythm and rate, therapy to shock the heart back to a regular rhythm and procedures to block faulty heart signals.

A person with atrial fibrillation also may have a related heart rhythm disorder called atrial flutter. The treatments for AFib and atrial flutter are similar.

How To Improve Your Heart Health

Experts recommend following the below to reduce yor risk of stroke or developing AFib and maintaining heart health:

• Don't smoke or use tobacco.
• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (or an equal combination of both) each week. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get quality sleep.
• Manage stress levels
• Get regular health screening tests.
• Eat a fiber, nuts and fish-rich diet
• Limit salt intake
• Reduce saturated fat intake