Can you choke to death from acid reflux?

There are no reported cases of a person choking to death in their sleep due to acid reflux or GERD. But GERD can cause stomach acid to enter the lungs, which can cause a burning cough.

Why do I wake up choking with acid reflux?

Acid reflux can cause a backflow of the stomach’s acid into the esophagus. This condition is also known as GERD. Sometimes this acid will move far enough up the larynx or throat. This can lead the person to wake up choking, coughing, and gasping for breath.

Can acid reflux cause you to stop breathing in your sleep?

Acid reflux can also cause sleep apnea. When you have acid reflux during the night, you may have spasms of the throat muscles and vocal cords that can block the airway and lead to obstructive sleep apnea.

What causes you to get choke in your sleep?

Choking occurs when your breathing is impeded by a constricted or obstructed throat or windpipe. Choking in your sleep is caused by the relaxation of soft tissue in the neck. As your throat collapses air cannot reach the lungs effectively, it causes you to wake up suddenly from the choking.

How do I stop choking from acid reflux at night?

Incline your bed

Tilting the head of your bed upward will raise your head, which can help reduce the chance that your stomach acid will reflux into your throat during the night. The Cleveland Clinic recommends using bed risers. These are small, column-like platforms placed under the legs of your bed.

Does drinking water help acid reflux?

Drinking water during the later stages of digestion can reduce acidity and GERD symptoms. Often, there are pockets of high acidity, between a pH or 1 and 2, just below the esophagus. By drinking tap or filtered water a little while after a meal, you can dilute the acid there, which can result in less heartburn.