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Please Help: Choking on Saliva in Sleep
I'm a generally healthy, slim 35 year old man but have an ongoing problem with choking on saliva in my sleep. I feel strongly that it's saliva and not acid or post-nasal drip and it happens very regularly. I don't smoke, eat a healthy diet and consume alcohol moderately.
As well as the panic reaction from waking choking on saliva I also then feel asthmatic symptoms most of the time; tightness in my chest, congestion in my bronchus, throat clearing after eating etc.
I am very, very concerned and would be very appreciative of any advice. My GP prescribed a steroid nasal spray, as he believes it's postnasal drip, but I am absolutely convinced that it's saliva causing the choking reflex.
Grateful for any comments/guidance.
With thanks in advance.
Will
As well as the panic reaction from waking choking on saliva I also then feel asthmatic symptoms most of the time; tightness in my chest, congestion in my bronchus, throat clearing after eating etc.
I am very, very concerned and would be very appreciative of any advice. My GP prescribed a steroid nasal spray, as he believes it's postnasal drip, but I am absolutely convinced that it's saliva causing the choking reflex.
Grateful for any comments/guidance.
With thanks in advance.
Will
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Considering your symptoms of choking in sleep, it is most likely that you may be having Obstructive Sleep Apnea. When a person sleeps the airways are usually patent allowing normal passage for air entry. The upper airway that is at the region of the tongue and the soft palate is the most compliant (soft) part. So, this is liable to collapse and cause airway obstruction.
As the air way collapses the lungs do not have air entry leading to deoxygenation (decreased oxygen) of blood and the person wakes up. This period of non entry of air is called ‘Apnea’ and the waking up is called an ‘Arousal’. This keeps alternating and the person may not actually wake up all the time, but these repeated arousals can disturb the sleep architecture and cause fatigue, headaches and daytime sleepiness. These people are also more prone for Hypertension. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is more common in people who snore.
I would advise you to consult a sleep specialist who would assess with first a sleep questionnaire, and then he may ask for a polysomnogram, which is an overnight sleep study as this helps to detect the apneas.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.