If you have a panic attack or anxiety from swallowing saliva, this article may help you. Sometimes choking on saliva can be a symptom of something more serious, so it’s important to see your doctor to rule out any serious medical conditions.
Choking is involuntary when the normal relaxed airway closure malfunctions and remains open, reducing the effectiveness of the pharynx contractions during sleep. In this condition, normal breathing gets obstructed and you may be awakened to find yourself gasping for breath. The reflex triggering the closure of your throat is a relaxation process that involves muscles controlling all the organs in your airway: the mouth, nasal passages, and throat.
Spiritual Meaning of Choking on Saliva
Choking on saliva is a sign that you need to slow down and take a moment to reflect on the things in your life.
It’s a sign that you’re moving too fast or that you need to take your time with something.
Choking on saliva can be a sign that you are trying too hard or that you need to relax and let things happen naturally.
This can mean that you are trying to hold back a secret or feeling that is bothering you. You may be struggling with whether or not to share it with someone else.
You could also be trying to hold back your own anger, which is a very common issue.
Choking on saliva is a sign that you need to slow down and take a moment to reflect on the things in your life. It’s a sign that you’re moving too fast or that you need to take your time with something. Choking on saliva can be a sign that you are trying too hard or that you need to relax and let things happen naturally. This can mean that you are trying to hold back a secret or feeling that is bothering you. You may be struggling with whether or not to share it with someone else. You could also be trying to hold back your own anger, which is a very common issue.
Choking on saliva is a common yet often overlooked occurrence that can carry significant spiritual meaning. In many spiritual traditions, physical sensations are believed to be connected to deeper emotional or spiritual states. If you find yourself choking on saliva, it may be a sign that you need to slow down and take a moment to reflect on the things in your life.
Here are some spiritual meanings that are relevant to the topic:
1. Need for Self-Reflection
Choking on saliva can be a sign that you are moving too fast in life and not taking the time to reflect on your actions and decisions. It may be a signal from your body that you need to slow down and spend some time in introspection. This can help you gain clarity and perspective on your life and the choices you are making.
2. Need to Release Emotions
Choking on saliva can also indicate that you are holding back emotions or feelings that need to be expressed. It may be a sign that you are struggling with internal conflict and need to find a healthy way to release these emotions. By acknowledging and processing these feelings, you can move towards healing and emotional well-being.
3. Need for Authenticity
Feeling choked up with saliva can be a sign that you are not being true to yourself or others. It may indicate that you are suppressing your true thoughts and feelings in order to please others or avoid conflict. Embracing honesty and authenticity can help you live a more fulfilling and aligned life.
4. Need for Spiritual Connection
Choking on saliva can also be a call to deepen your spiritual practice and connection. It may be a sign that you are feeling disconnected from your higher self or spiritual beliefs. Taking time to reconnect with your spiritual practice and beliefs can help you find peace and clarity in times of struggle.
In the Bible, there are many stories and verses that speak to the importance of self-reflection, emotional release, authenticity, and spiritual connection. One such verse is Proverbs 4:23 which states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse emphasizes the importance of taking care of your emotional and spiritual well-being in order to lead a fulfilling life.
In the story of Jonah in the Bible, Jonah tries to run away from God’s calling and ends up in the belly of a whale. This can be seen as a metaphor for trying to suppress or avoid facing difficult emotions or spiritual truths. Only by facing his fears and acknowledging his true feelings was Jonah able to find peace and fulfillment.
Overall, choking on saliva can serve as a powerful reminder to slow down, reflect, release emotions, and reconnect with your spiritual self. By listening to these subtle signs from your body, you can gain valuable insights and work towards a more balanced and authentic life.
Biblical Meaning of Being Choked In A Dream
Saliva is a clear liquid produced by the salivary glands. It aids in digestion and contributes to oral health by washing bacteria and food from the mouth. The body produces about 1 to 2 liters of saliva each day, which most people swallow without noticing. But sometimes saliva doesn’t flow easily down the throat and can cause choking.
Although choking on saliva happens to everyone from time to time, repeatedly choking on saliva could indicate an underlying health problem or bad habit. Here’s what you need to know about choking on saliva, including causes and prevention.
Spiritual Meaning of Choking on Food
Dream about Choking On Food means your desires to find perfect happiness. There is something emerging from your subconscious. Somebody is guiding you toward a place of security. The dream is a symbol for victory. You are at a standstill in your life.
Choke in your dream is a sign that you will engage in harmful, destructive actions or relationships that are extremely painful. You must make a fresh start and rearrange your priorities. You must develop your capacity for situational adaptation. Your worries regarding your capacity to complete a difficult work or perform in a certain circumstance are reflected in the dream. You need to express yourself to people more effectively.
Choke in this dream alludes to the advantage or reward of your diligent labor. You don’t want to know something, though. You must be aware of any buried talents or desires. The message in your dream is about interconnectedness and how we are all reliant on one another. By assisting someone, you.
A dream in which you choke on food is a warning to aim high. Time to start moving in the correct direction. You are prepared to venture out and be open to new things. This dream suggests a solid network of supporters for you. You need to convey how you truly feel and be more honest about your feelings.
Biblical Meaning of Being Choked in a Dream
To dream of being choked represents emotional suffocation. Feeling unable to express yourself at all or make your own decisions.
To dream of choking someone else represents your disinterest or hostility to someone else expressing themselves. It may also be a sign that you don’t want someone else’s ideas considered at all. Positively, it may reflect your attempt to cut of negative thinking patterns that stifling progress.
To dream of choking on food may reflect new ideas or situations you feel are causing more problems that you first believed. You may be having difficulty accepting someone else’s ideas.
Example: A woman dreamed of being choked while laying in bed. In waking life she was very unhappy with her husband whom she felt was totally controlling her life.
What are the symptoms of Being Choked?
Choking on saliva can occur if the muscles involved in swallowing weaken or stop functioning properly due to other health problems. Gagging and coughing when you haven’t been drinking or eating is a symptom of choking on saliva. You may also experience the following:
- gasping for air
- an inability to breathe or talk
- waking up coughing or gagging
Common causes
Occasionally choking on saliva may not be a cause for concern. But if it happens frequently, identifying the cause could prevent future occurrences. Possible causes of choking on saliva include:
1. Acid reflux
Acid reflux is when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and mouth. As stomach contents flow into the mouth, saliva production may increase to wash away the acid.
Acid reflux can also irritate the lining of the esophagus. This can make swallowing difficult and allow saliva to pool in the back of your mouth, causing choking.
Other symptoms of acid reflux include:
- heartburn
- chest pain
- regurgitation
- nausea
Your doctor can diagnose acid reflux disease by either an endoscopy or special type of X-ray. Treatment can include over-the-counter or prescription antacids to reduce stomach acid.
2. Sleep-related abnormal swallowing
This is a disorder where saliva collects in the mouth while sleeping and then flows into the lungs, leading to aspiration and choking. You may wake up gasping for air and choking on your saliva.
An older study theorizes there may be a link between abnormal swallowing and obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when breathing pauses while asleep due to an airway that’s too narrow or blocked.
A sleep study test can help your doctor diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and abnormal swallowing. Treatment includes use of a CPAP machine. This machine provides continuous airflow while sleeping. Another treatment option is an oral mouth guard. The guard is worn while sleeping to keep the throat open.
3. Lesions or tumors in the throat
Benign or cancerous lesions or tumors in the throat can narrow the esophagus and make it difficult to swallow saliva, triggering choking.
Your doctor can use an imaging test, like an MRI or CT scan, to check for lesions or tumors in your throat. Treatment may involve surgically removing a tumor, or radiation or chemotherapy to shrink cancerous growths. Other symptoms of a tumor can include:
- visible lump in the throat
- hoarseness
- sore throat
4. Poorly fitting dentures
The salivary glands produce more saliva when nerves in the mouth detect a foreign object like food. If you wear dentures, your brain might mistake your dentures for food and increase saliva production. Too much saliva in your mouth could cause occasional choking.
Saliva production may slow down as your body adjusts to the dentures. If not, see your doctor. Your dentures may be too tall for your mouth or not fitted to your bite.
5. Neurological disorders
Neurological disorders, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, can damage the nerves in the back of the throat. This can lead to difficulty swallowing and choking on saliva. Other symptoms of a neurological problem may include:
- muscle weakness
- muscle spasms in other parts of the body
- difficulty speaking
- impaired voice
Doctors use a variety of tests to check for neurological disorders. These include imaging tests, such as a CT scan and MRI, as well as nerve tests, such as an electromyography. An electromyography checks muscle response to nerve stimulation.
Treatment depends on the neurological disorder. Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce saliva production and teach techniques to improve swallowing. Medications to reduce saliva secretion include glycopyrrolate (Robinul) and scopolamine, also known as hyoscine.
6. Heavy alcohol use
Choking on saliva can also occur after heavy alcohol use. Alcohol is a depressant. Consuming too much alcohol can slow muscle response. Being unconscious or incapacitated from consuming too much alcohol can cause saliva to pool in the back of the mouth instead of flowing down the throat. Sleeping with your head elevated can improve saliva flow and prevent choking.
7. Talking excessively
Saliva production continues as you talk. If you’re speaking a lot and don’t stop to swallow, saliva can travel down your windpipe into your respiratory system and trigger choking. To prevent choking, speak slowly and swallow in between phrases or sentences.
8. Allergies or respiratory problems
Thick mucus or saliva triggered by allergies or respiratory problems may not easily flow down your throat. While sleeping, mucus and saliva can collect in your mouth and lead to choking.
Other symptoms of allergies or a respiratory issue include:
- sore throat
- sneezing
- coughing
- runny nose
Take an antihistamine or cold medication to reduce mucus production and thin thick saliva. See your doctor if you have a fever, or if your symptoms worsen. A respiratory infection may require antibiotics.
9. Hypersalivation during pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause extreme nausea and morning sickness in some women. Hypersalivation sometimes accompanies nausea, and some pregnant women swallow less when nauseous. Both factors contribute to excess saliva in the mouth and choking.
This problem may gradually improve. There’s no cure, but drinking water can help wash excess saliva from the mouth.
10. Drug-induced hypersalivation
Some medications can also trigger increased saliva production. These include:
- clozapine (Clozaril)
- aripiprazole (Abilify)
- ketamine (Ketalar)
You may also experience drooling, difficulty swallowing, and the urge to spit.
Speak with your doctor if too much saliva production is causing you to choke. Your doctor may switch your medication, modify your dosage, or prescribe a medication to reduce saliva production.
Choking on saliva in babies
Babies can also choke on their saliva. Speak with your child’s doctor if this happens often. Possible causes may include swollen tonsils blocking the flow of saliva or infant reflux. Try the following to reduce infant reflux in your child:
- Keep your baby upright for 30 minutes after eating.
- If they drink formula, try switching up the brand.
- Give smaller but more frequent feedings.
If necessary, your child’s doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy.
Additionally, an allergy or cold can make it harder for your baby to swallow thick saliva and mucus. Your doctor may recommend remedies to thin mucus, such as saline drops or a vaporizer.
Some babies also produce more saliva when teething. This could lead to choking. The occasional cough or gag isn’t usually anything to worry about, but consult your doctor if choking doesn’t improve or if it worsens.
Prevention tips
Prevention involves reducing saliva production, improving the flow of saliva down the throat, and treating any underlying health problems. Helpful tips include:
Slow down and swallow when speaking.
Sleep with your head propped up so that saliva can flow down the throat.
Sleep on your side instead of your back.
Raise the head of your bed by a few inches to keep stomach acid in your stomach.
Drink alcohol in moderation.
Eat smaller meals.
Take over-the-counter medication at the first sign of a cold, allergies, or sinus problems.
Sip on water throughout the day to help clear saliva from your mouth.
Avoid sucking on candy, which can increase saliva production.
Chew sugarless gum to prevent nausea during pregnancy.
If your baby chokes on saliva while sleeping on their back, talk with their doctor to see if it’s safe for them to sleep on their stomach. This allows excess saliva to drain from their mouth. Stomach or side sleeping may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s important to check in with your child’s doctor.
When to see a doctor
Choking on saliva may not indicate a serious problem. It happens to everyone at some point. Even so, don’t ignore continuous choking. This could indicate an undiagnosed health problem, such as acid reflux or a neurological disorder. Getting an early diagnosis and treatment can prevent other complications from developing.