Reducing acid reflux and choking hazards

Reducing acid reflux and choking hazards

Choking can be a very startling and disturbing experience for many acid reflux sufferers, both infants and adults. The symptom of choking usually occurs at night when a person is sleeping, and choking awakens the person, who then usually coughs violently to clear their throat and catch their breath.

Why does acid reflux and suffocation occur? When acid reflux occurs during sleep, the body's natural defenses against reflux are disabled. For example, you no longer have the ability to swallow saliva, which neutralizes acid, and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes, no longer blocking stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus. Disabling your natural defenses can not only cause heartburn, but it can also cause stomach acid to crawl up the esophagus and collect in the throat, allowing it to flow into the mouth and nose. In this case, the acid can be aspirated (sucked in while breathing), causing it to drip into the lungs and trachea, causing suffocation and possible damage to the lungs.

There are some factors that can cause acid reflux and suffocation at night in adults. The following is a breakdown of these major factors, followed by the steps to address the problem:

– Sleeping on your back – When you sleep on your back (lying flat on your back), stomach acid can flow freely into the esophagus and remain there for a long period of time. This can cause heartburn and cause acid to rise further down the esophagus and into the throat.

Prevention Tip – Sleep with your head and shoulders elevated about 3 to 6 inches above the mattress. Use pillows to support yourself. The idea is to place your body at a slight incline so that acid cannot enter your upper esophagus. Sleeping on your left side can also prove beneficial as studies have shown that sleeping on your right side can make the problem worse.

– Sleeping in tight clothing – Tight clothing that gathers around your waist puts pressure on your stomach and can force acid into your esophagus.

Prevention Tip – Wear loose-fitting clothing/pajamas to bed and avoid pants, shorts, or underwear with tight elastic waist bands. While sleeping, you don't want to cause unnecessary aggravation that increases or worsens the risk of reflux.

– Eating before bed – Many people make the mistake of eating or drinking right before bed. Lying down too soon after eating slows down the digestive process, and sleeping on a full stomach dramatically increases the risk of heartburn as well as acid reflux and choking.

Prevention Tip – Eliminate foods that trigger acid reflux symptoms (e.g. fatty and spicy foods, alcohol, etc.) from your regular diet and avoid eating or drinking 2-3 hours before bedtime. When you are thirsty, drink water slowly in small amounts.

How can I prevent acid reflux and choking in my child? Unfortunately, infants are also prone to acid reflux and choking symptoms. The main reason for this is that the LES is not fully developed in many infants younger than 18 months. Signs of acid reflux in your infant include:

Frequent spitting due to poor sleep

– Extreme excitement

– Frequent arching or stretching of the back or neck

– Refusal of food

– Slow weight gain

– Chronic sinus or ear infections

If your child has any of these symptoms, they need to be properly diagnosed by their pediatrician. Acid reflux in children is very complicated to diagnose, and only your child's pediatrician can make this diagnosis and determine what treatment is best for your child. Never diagnose your child alone.

If your child still suffers from acid reflux and choking, you can prevent your child from suffering in the following ways:

– Change diet. This may mean giving your child:

– Smaller and more frequent meals

– Thickened formula with rice cereal

– Avoid foods that trigger acid reflux such as citrus fruits, tomato products, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, chocolate, etc.

– Keep the child upright during feeding

– Keep the child upright for at least half an hour after eating

– Place the child so that he or she is tilted and his or her head and shoulders are slightly raised. This can be done with a wedge pillow.

– Your doctor may also prescribe medication for you.

Finally, anyone experiencing nocturnal acid reflux and choking or other symptoms should speak to their doctor and receive the necessary treatment to prevent symptoms from occurring so that damage to the esophagus and/or lungs can be avoided.

Inspired by Kathryn Whittaker