Ewww, you awaken having to “throw up” foamy gunk (bile? acid? mucus?) and it tastes as bad as it looks. Is this acid reflux?
“If an individual has acid reflux, the brain can reflex, automatically respond, by stimulating salivation and mucus secretion,” says Hugh Mai, MD, a gastroenterology and internal medicine specialist in Baltimore, MD.
“This can involve postnasal discharge which can pool in the hypopharynx when someone is sleeping, and that person can spit out a foamy, mucus-y phlegm in the morning.”
This can explain why some people — perhaps a family member of yours — immediately cough upon getting out of bed every morning.
And the cough and throat clearing sound like there’s a lot of “mucus-y” phlegm to get rid of.
You’re not actually upchucking at this point in the way you would if you had eaten contaminated meat or were suffering from a nauseous side effect of medication.
But there’s enough frothy stuff in your throat and mouth to make you spit it out.
Dr. Mai continues, “Bile tends to be yellow or green and will taste very bitter like soap and can be foamy with regurgitation.
“If someone vomits up acid, it tends to be clear, with a very sour taste. It can also be foamy if there is a lot of mucus as well.”
Preventing Morning Phlegm & Mucus
• Avoid eating meals or big snacks close to bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime can disrupt your sleep by causing discomfort or indigestion.
Giving your body a few hours to digest before you hit the sack can help you sleep more soundly and wake up feeling refreshed.
If you find yourself hungry before bed, a small, light snack like a piece of fruit or a small handful of nuts can be a good option.
• Avoid drinking liquor, even red wine, at least three hours before bedtime. Yes, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime can improve your sleep quality.
While alcohol might make you feel drowsy initially, it can interfere with your sleep cycle, leading to fragmented sleep and less restorative rest.
It’s best to stop drinking alcohol at least three hours before you plan to go to bed to give your body time to process it and minimize its impact on your sleep.
• See what happens when you elevate the head-end of your bed about 10 inches (if possible).
This slope will help deter your stomach’s acidic contents from traveling up your esophagus.
• One last natural measure to prevent spitting up morning mucus, bile and other gunk is to elevate your torso with a wedge pillow (below).
Hugh Mai, MD, has 35+ years of experience and is well-versed in the endoscopic treatment of GERD. His areas of focus include interventional endoscopy, metabolic endoscopy and gut health.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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