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.

For millions living with Type 2 diabetes, every doctor’s appointment comes with a familiar worry: How can I prevent another heart attack or stroke? A new study shared at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 suggests that one simple, everyday pill might offer extra protection.

Researchers tracked people with Type 2 diabetes who faced moderate to high cardiovascular risk and discovered that those who regularly took low-dose aspirin had lower chances of heart attack, stroke, and death compared to those who didn’t take it.

Low-Dose Aspirin May Lower Heart Risk in People With Diabetes

Adults with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) who took low-dose aspirin were less likely to experience a major heart event, including heart attack, stroke, or death, than others with similar risk levels who did not use aspirin, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025.

For the study, researchers reviewed the health records of nearly 11,700 adults with type 2 diabetes and a high risk of heart disease who were part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center network, which spans over 35 hospitals and 400 outpatient clinics across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.

The key findings were:

• According to the study, adults with Type 2 diabetes who took low-dose aspirin had a lower rate of heart attack (42.4%) than those who didn’t (61.2%).
• The stroke risk was also reduced for those on a low-dose aspirin routine (14.5% vs. 24.8%), as was the risk of death from any cause within a decade (33% vs. 50.7%).
• Any level of aspirin use appeared linked to fewer heart attacks and strokes, with the strongest protection seen among those who took it most consistently.
• In subgroup analyses, low-dose aspirin use lowered cardiovascular risk regardless of participants’ HbA1c levels (a measure of blood sugar control). However, the benefit was more pronounced among those with lower HbA1c levels, suggesting better-managed diabetes led to stronger protection.

“People with Type 2 diabetes and higher cardiovascular risk who reported using low-dose aspirin were significantly less likely to experience heart attack, stroke, or death over ten years than those who didn’t,” explained Dr. Aleesha Kainat, clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “That benefit was greatest for people who took aspirin regularly throughout the follow-up period,” she added.

What Are the Risks of Low-Dose Aspirin?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises adults over 60 not to take daily low-dose aspirin as a preventive measure for heart disease. The reason is that, while the medication can help reduce clot-related events, it also increases the risk of bleeding, especially in older adults.

“Although aspirin is often seen as harmless for most adults, it carries real risks, including potentially serious bleeding complications, particularly in older individuals,” noted a report from Healthline.

Recent evidence also suggests that daily aspirin may not benefit older adults unless they have already experienced a major cardiac event such as a heart attack.

In a recent post, a neurologist reveals that losing sleep doesn’t just make you feel ‘sleepier’ but can have severe effects on your health as well.

Sleep deprivation is not uncommon. About one in five people in the UK are not getting enough sleep, according to Mental Health UK. They state that 66% of adolescents explain how poor sleep negatively impacts their mental health, and 37% of adults explain that their work is causing them to lose control over how much sleep they are having. Most people know how lack of sleep can affect their health; however, many times pre-existing health conditions can also be the cause of their sleep deprivation.

Whether you are sleeping less due to work or stress, it is very important to get help with it as soon as possible. Posting on social media X, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist, explained how sleep deprivation puts your body at risk, not just by harming your mental/psychological well-being but also puts you in life-threatening danger.

What Happens To Your Body When You Sleep Less?

Dr Sudhir Kumar explains that getting less than 4 hours of sleep for even just one night is a big deal. It has major, noticeable effects on your memory, how well you pay attention, and your ability to drive safely. In fact, being sleep-deprived is similar to being slightly drunk. This isn't just a feeling; it's proven by science.

3 Ways Less Sleep Is Hurting Your Health

In the post, Dr Sudhir listed 3 key ways your health is affected when you sleep less than 4 hours at night.

Memory Becomes Muddled

When you don't sleep enough, your memory takes a huge hit. Working Memory is a part of your memory you use for quick thinking, like solving a problem, making a decision, or remembering a phone number just long enough to dial it etc., is called working memory. When you're severely tired, this working memory drops dramatically, making simple tasks feel hard.

The key areas in your brain that build and pull up memories like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus actually show less activity when doctors look at them with brain scans. They aren't working as hard as they should be.

Because of these changes, you will likely find it difficult to learn new things, keep up with a fast conversation, or remember details you were taught earlier that day.

Focus and Alertness Fades

Your ability to concentrate and stay alert is unreliable when sleep deprived. You will start experiencing microsleeps, which is when you can experience tiny, involuntary lapses at attention. You might literally doze off for a few seconds without even knowing it, especially when doing something boring or repetitive.

When your brain gets tired, leading to slower reaction times and a general feeling of mental fatigue. This makes it much harder to focus for long periods or try to do two things at once.

You tend to make more impulsive, which is quick, not well-thought-out decisions. As a result, the number of mistakes you make shoots up sharply.

Driving Becomes Risky

Driving when severely tired is dangerously similar to driving drunk. If you drive after sleeping less than 4 hours, your performance behind the wheel is like that of someone with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. This is the legal limit for drunk driving in most places!

You have a much higher chance of drifting out of your lane, taking too long to hit the brakes, or missing traffic signs or lights entirely.

Research proves that drowsy driving causes thousands of car accidents every year. Sometimes, the driver doesn't even remember the crash because they were experiencing one of those dangerous microsleeps.

Not getting enough sleep is like putting your brain under the influence of alcohol. It messes up your attention, memory, and physical coordination.

The important rule is this: Do not drive or use heavy machinery if you have slept for less than 4 hours. Your ability to react quickly and make smart, safe decisions cannot be trusted.

Air Quality Numbers Explained: As pollution in Delhi continues to rise without pause, residents are constantly checking the AQI levels to decide when it might be safe to step outdoors. Air Quality Index (AQI) figures now dominate headlines and social media updates, yet many still do not understand what these numbers actually mean for their health. Is an AQI of 180 cause for concern? Should you skip your morning jog when it touches 250? What do these AQI readings really represent, and at what point does the air become unsafe to breathe outside?

What Is the Air Quality Index?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a numerical scale used by environmental agencies to measure pollution levels in the air and communicate those findings to the public. A higher AQI means a greater proportion of people are likely to experience harmful health effects.

Measuring AQI involves collecting data on pollutant concentrations over a set time period using air monitoring equipment. These results are then divided into ranges, each assigned a color, description, and public health message as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Historically, most regions around the world have used the model created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It uses a segmented linear function to translate pollutant concentrations into AQI values. When several pollutants are recorded at a monitoring site, the highest hourly AQI reading is reported for that location. However, pollution sources and types vary from country to country, so the exact composition of pollutants may differ even when AQI values appear similar.

Air Quality Index in India

India’s National Air Quality Index (NAQI) was introduced by the Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, on 17 September 2014. The initiative is part of the government’s effort to promote a “culture of cleanliness,” responding to the country’s growing air pollution problem, especially in densely populated cities.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) manages the National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP), which operates across 240 cities. The system was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), and provides real-time air quality data accessible to the public. You can check these updates on the CPCB’s official website.

How Do the Air Quality Numbers Work?

Understanding AQI is simple once you know the six main categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each range corresponds to specific health impacts.

• 0–100 (Good): The air is safe for most people.
• 101–200 (Moderate to Poor): Sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with lung or heart conditions may experience mild discomfort.
• 201–300 (Very Poor): The air becomes unhealthy for everyone, possibly causing irritation, fatigue, or breathing difficulties.
• Above 300 (Severe): The air is considered hazardous, and protective steps should be taken immediately.

As per AirNow, India’s CPCB tracks and updates AQI levels in real time through the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme, helping citizens stay informed about local air conditions.

When Is It Safe To Step Outside?

There is no need to panic every time air quality drops, but it is wise to adjust your outdoor activity based on daily AQI readings.

When AQI Is Good or Satisfactory (0–100):

You can safely spend time outdoors, exercise, and keep your home ventilated. The risk to the general population is minimal.

When AQI Is Moderate or Poor (101–200):

People who are more vulnerable—such as children, older adults, and those with asthma or heart conditions—should limit strenuous outdoor activities. Wearing an N95 or FFP2 mask while commuting can help reduce exposure to fine particles.

When AQI Is Very Poor (201–300):

Everyone should try to stay indoors more often. Avoid outdoor workouts or walks, especially early in the morning. Keep doors and windows closed, and use air purifiers if available. Indoor plants such as peace lilies and snake plants can slightly improve indoor air quality.

When AQI Is Severe (300+):

Remain indoors as much as possible and avoid physical activity outside. If you experience chest tightness, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, seek medical help promptly.

As the smog season settles in, small and consistent steps, like staying informed, wearing a mask, and improving indoor air can make a real difference. Cleaner air depends on collective effort, but protecting your health begins with awareness and mindful daily choices. Learn to read the AQI numbers, know when it is safe to step outside, and if you must, mask up and stay safe.