{"id":149771,"date":"2022-12-10T02:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T09:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/?p=149771"},"modified":"2022-12-12T00:09:49","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T07:09:49","slug":"these-strategies-make-swallowing-pills-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/articles\/these-strategies-make-swallowing-pills-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"These Strategies Make Swallowing Pills Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
If you have to take vitamins, medications, or supplements, the last thing you want to do is gag or choke during the process. \u201cPill dysphagia,\u201d or trouble swallowing pills, is very common. What\u2019s interesting is that people who have this difficulty don\u2019t struggle to swallow solid foods or liquids. If you are one of the many people who have difficulty swallowing pills<\/strong>, you\u2019ll want to learn about the different strategies in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some people, large \u201chorse\u201d pills are the primary difficulty. For others, swallowing any little pill or capsule can seem like an impossible feat. Swallowing a pill is not as easy as it looks! The nerves in your mouth, throat, and esophagus work in unison to move food, liquids, and pills into the digestive tract. Typically, you don\u2019t have to think about this teamwork when you swallow, but you become aware of all that goes into swallowing when pills or supplements enter the equation. The more you think about it, the more difficult it is. Fortunately, there are alternative strategies that may make swallowing pills a whole lot easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hydrate Your Throat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When your throat is dry, it is much more difficult for a pill to go down smoothly. Ideally, you want to lubricate your throat by drinking a glass of water before attempting to swallow your pill(s). Then, you drink more water when it comes time to actually take your pill\/supplement. Some manufacturers make pill swallowing sprays, which are over-the-counter products that make the throat a bit more slippery. These sprays often contain food-based ingredients that are generally safe, according to a July 2018 study. Your average glass of water works just as well, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Mixing The Pill With Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the supplement, medication, or pill that you need to take, mixing it with food may be your best bet. You can crush a pill into yogurt, applesauce, or pudding, making the medicine go down a lot smoother. If you want to do that with medication or vitamins, you may want to consult your pharmacist or doctor to see if that is a viable option. The reason for this is that crushing up a drug, for example, can alter the way it works, especially in regards to extended-release pills. Additionally, there are certain food-drug interactions that you want to be aware of, as they may affect your meds. If you have a capsule like one of the many herbal supplements<\/a> from Dherbs, you may be able to open the capsule and empty the contents into a smoothie or juice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n