Trouble Swallowing Pills Is Common
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since chewing a tablet or capsule is not a good idea, because the manufacturers didn't intend them to be ingested that way, it's essential to find a way to make the process easier. One tip that sounds like fun is to wrap the pill in a gummy bear or fruit snack. Let the whole get slippery in your mouth, maybe hastening the process by a sip of warm liquid, and swallow it down.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since chewing a tablet or capsule is not a good idea, because the manufacturers didn't intend them to be ingested that way, it's essential to find a way to make the process easier. One tip that sounds like fun is to wrap the pill in a gummy bear or fruit snack. Let the whole get slippery in your mouth, maybe hastening the process by a sip of warm liquid, and swallow it down.
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.
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