Drooling while sleeping might seem harmless or even a little funny. Many people blame it on sleeping in the wrong position, being overly tired, or having a stuffy nose. In most cases, that’s true—it’s a minor and temporary issue. However, if you find yourself waking up with a wet pillow night after night, and especially if you notice other unusual symptoms, it might be your body sending you an important warning.
In some cases, frequent nighttime drooling can be linked to serious medical conditions, including certain types of cancer. Here are three cancer-related illnesses you should know about.
1. Nasopharyngeal Can:cer (Cancer of the Nasopharynx)
The nasopharynx is the upper part of your throat, located behind your nose. Tumors in this area can cause swelling, blockages, and abnormal mucus production. If cancer develops here, it can lead to symptoms like:
- Persistent nasal congestion or stuffiness
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
- A lump in the neck (swollen lymph nodes)
Because the tumor can interfere with normal breathing and swallowing, saliva may build up and escape from the mouth during sleep. If your drooling is accompanied by any of these symptoms—especially neck lumps—don’t delay seeing a doctor.
2. Esophageal Can:cer (Can:cer of the Esophagus)
The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophageal canc:er can make swallowing difficult (a condition called dysphagia), cause pain when eating, and sometimes lead to excess drooling—especially at night. This happens because:
- A tumor narrows the esophagus, preventing saliva from moving down normally
- Acid reflux and irritation increase saliva production
- Your swallowing reflex becomes less effective while sleeping
Other war:ning signs of esophageal can:cer include unexplained weight loss, persistent heartburn, and chest discomfort. While drooling alone doesn’t mean you have can:cer, drooling combined with swallowing difficulties should be checked promptly.
3. Salivary Gland Can:cer
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