We're all familiar with medication or nutritional supplements in pill form. The shelves of pharmacies, drug stores, health food stores, and even groceries are crowded with them. However, many people have trouble swallowing pills. Research suggests that as much as 40% of the population may have this difficulty.
Fortunately for all of us, we have the internet as a resource when we have questions. A search on this topic quickly reveals that no one need feel like the Lone Ranger in hating to take a pill. There are many, many discussions online about this, as well as many solutions and suggestions from both private persons and health professionals.
Apparently the position in which you hold your head is important to the swallowing process. The idea of throwing your head back when drinking deeply isn't helpful when you take a pill. It narrows your throat rather than opening it. Tucking your chin to your chest relaxes the throat and makes a dose go down more easily.
Some have an over-active gag reflex and find that trying to ingest something they haven't chewed will trigger it. They may expel a pill rather than getting it down. Others find that the pill, especially if it's in tablet form, sticks half-way down. Following the tablet with a piece of bread or a mouthful of food may help. Young children and the elderly are prone to these difficulties.
Chewing the pill or capsule is not recommended unless you know that this won't interfere with the action of the substance. Anyway, many things that are good for us taste terrible. One tip found online is to insert the pill in a gummy bear or a fruit snack, which quickly gets slippery when in your mouth. This makes the whole slide down more easily; you can practice first with just the gummy and see how easy it is.
Other tips include using a straw to get a mouthful of liquid or chewing a mouthful of food, popping in the tablet you need to take, and swallowing the whole deal. Sucking on a straw creates suction in your mouth, which makes swallowing easier. A mouthful of already chewed food can take the pill with it and keep it from getting stuck halfway down.
Water is the safest liquid to use when taking medication, since it doesn't interfere with the ingredients or the efficacy of the pharmaceutical. You can check and see if there are any warnings about food or beverages which should be avoided. If not, many find that carbonated beverages work well. If you have trouble with liquid or regular food, you may have dysphagia, a condition which may require a special diet and medical supervision.
Cutting or crushing the tablet can help, but this may not be recommended. The taste may be awful, as well. It's better to practice taking big gulps, trying to hold your head properly, learning to relax, and using food or favorite liquids to make it easier. You can also ask if the medication or supplement is available in liquid or chewable form, or as a sub-lingual or spray.
Fortunately for all of us, we have the internet as a resource when we have questions. A search on this topic quickly reveals that no one need feel like the Lone Ranger in hating to take a pill. There are many, many discussions online about this, as well as many solutions and suggestions from both private persons and health professionals.
Apparently the position in which you hold your head is important to the swallowing process. The idea of throwing your head back when drinking deeply isn't helpful when you take a pill. It narrows your throat rather than opening it. Tucking your chin to your chest relaxes the throat and makes a dose go down more easily.
Some have an over-active gag reflex and find that trying to ingest something they haven't chewed will trigger it. They may expel a pill rather than getting it down. Others find that the pill, especially if it's in tablet form, sticks half-way down. Following the tablet with a piece of bread or a mouthful of food may help. Young children and the elderly are prone to these difficulties.
Chewing the pill or capsule is not recommended unless you know that this won't interfere with the action of the substance. Anyway, many things that are good for us taste terrible. One tip found online is to insert the pill in a gummy bear or a fruit snack, which quickly gets slippery when in your mouth. This makes the whole slide down more easily; you can practice first with just the gummy and see how easy it is.
Other tips include using a straw to get a mouthful of liquid or chewing a mouthful of food, popping in the tablet you need to take, and swallowing the whole deal. Sucking on a straw creates suction in your mouth, which makes swallowing easier. A mouthful of already chewed food can take the pill with it and keep it from getting stuck halfway down.
Water is the safest liquid to use when taking medication, since it doesn't interfere with the ingredients or the efficacy of the pharmaceutical. You can check and see if there are any warnings about food or beverages which should be avoided. If not, many find that carbonated beverages work well. If you have trouble with liquid or regular food, you may have dysphagia, a condition which may require a special diet and medical supervision.
Cutting or crushing the tablet can help, but this may not be recommended. The taste may be awful, as well. It's better to practice taking big gulps, trying to hold your head properly, learning to relax, and using food or favorite liquids to make it easier. You can also ask if the medication or supplement is available in liquid or chewable form, or as a sub-lingual or spray.
About the Author:
If you have trouble swallowing pills, consider using a pill straw to make it easier for you. To order right now, visit the related site at http://www.healthywaymedical.net.
0 comments: