Friday, August 22, 2014

Trouble Swallowing Pills Is Common

By Rhea Frazier


These days, many people are taking medication. If they're not on one or more pharmaceuticals, they probably take supplements like vitamin or mineral tablets or capsules. However, many of them have trouble swallowing pills. In fact, some doctors and researchers say that 40% or more of Americans have this problem.

The internet is a wonderful resource if you are one of the 40%. First of all, it's nice to know you're not alone when you're having difficulties. There's so much advice online that you quickly figure out this is not an uncommon problem. Then, of course, you can take advantage of the ideas you find online. There are testimonials from private individuals and posts from health care professionals with medical credentials.

One tip concerns the position of your head during the process. People may think that throwing the head back will make things easier, but this is apparently the wrong approach. Doing this actually makes your throat narrower. Experts suggest tucking your head into your chest, which relaxes the throat and should help a tablet or capsule go down.

People who know that a pill is going to stick half-way down, or who gag when they try to take something without chewing, often make matters worse by tensing up when it's time to swallow. Even though they know this is happening, they can't help themselves. The very young and the very old are most prone to this difficulty, but some suffer with it all their lives.

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.

Using a straw to take in liquid to wash down the tablet or capsule is another tip. Apparently the act of sucking on a straw helps relax the throat and take enough liquid to swallow with an open throat. Chewing a mouthful of food and popping the pill in right before swallowing is another way to get it down and keep it from lodging half-way.

Water is a good medium for washing down medication or supplements, because it doesn't interfere with the operation of the active ingredients. However, if you know that milk, juice, or carbonated beverages won't make the ingredients less effective, these may work better for you. The more pleasant the experience can be, the better. There are those who have problems even getting liquids down and who must use a thickening agent to keep from choking. These individuals may have a condition called dysphagia and need a doctor's care.

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.




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