If having to swallow pills makes you dread, you are not alone. There are many people who find this simple task a matter of life and death. For some people, this might be a problem that has grown, but a study shows that almost 40% of adults have problems swallowing the pills.
Our body is designed in such intricate ways that it instinctively knows what needs to be chewed to what point for effective swallowing. So, when you half-heartedly chew something leaving large chunks in it, your body reacts and restricts you from swallowing it.
Some people suffer from high sensitive gag reflexes, and for some adults and senior citizens, the pill-swallowing problem is largely related to mental blockage.
This article will discuss different methods that can be used to swallow your pills without choking and gagging.
Why Do People Have Problem Swallowing Pills?
There are a few reasons that make people gag or choke while swallowing medicinal pills. The following reason contributes the most:
- Disliking the pills.
- Swallowing mechanism problem.
- A temporary condition where you find it hard to swallow anything.
- Dry mouth.
- Fear of choking.
How To Swallow A Pill: Strategies Worth Trying
Lots of people have difficulty swallowing pills. We have already talked about the possible reasons above. Here, we will discuss the solution that can help you solve the issue of not being able to swallow the pills.
After doing thorough research on the methods that are practical and can be used to swallow pills, we came across these strategies.
Strategy 1: Use Swallowing Gel
Swallowing gels is one of the best products that help patients swallow their medicine without any issues. In a study, more than 50% of the participants accepted the fact that after using swallowing gel, they can now easily swallow the pills.
Furthermore, swallowing gel enhances the taste of the medicine and limits the discomfort that people feel while swallowing the pill.
Strategy 2: Drink Lots Of Water
It is one of the old school methods that has been followed by generation after generation. Everyone uses these methods by adding their own twist. If you have never tried this method before actually going with it, practice by taking a big swing of a glass full of water and try to drink it without stopping. If you are comfortable doing this, you would be able to do it with the pill.
Strategy 3: Pop Bottle Method
Pop bottle methods are effective only if you are consuming dense tablets. This method might not work with the capsule. To swallow pills with the pop bottle method, you will need a water bottle with a narrow opening. Fill the bottle to the rim. Now place the pill on your tongue, bring your water bottle close to the mouth, seal the opening with your lips and press the bottle hard. This will force the tablet to do your pipe in one gulp.
Strategy 4: Lean Forward
Lean forward is a method that ensures you have a straight pipeline while taking your pill. Start with your chin up, shoulder back, and pill in your mouth. Now take a sip of water and try to gulp down water and pill. These methods have quite a fan following as most of the patients believe that these strategies actually work for them.
Final Thoughts
There are other methods that would have been made to the list if it had been only about consuming the pill. For instance:
- Break the pill in half.
- Make a powder out of the pill.
- Chewing the pill.
- Mix it with the water.
Well, these methods were also helpful, but chewing and crushing the pill might reduce the effectiveness of the pill.
Finally, if you have been on multiple medications, talk to your doctor about it and ensure that the medications do not interact or react with each other.