The 3 Week Diet

Do you think that these are the best solutions ?

Try A Pill Straw To Help The Medicine Go Down

Filled under:

By Christa Jarvis


People of all ages may experience problems when they need to take a tablet or capsule. Studies show that millions have this problem seriously enough to interfere with their health care. Now there is a solution for those who eat and drink normally, only having trouble when it comes to swallowing pills. Using a pill straw, which works like any other drinking straw but is designed to hold a pill, can make things easier.

A relatively small number of people suffer from dysphagia. This condition makes it hard for them to swallow food or liquids, and pills are virtually impossible for them. These individuals usually require medical help and a special diet of thickened liquids and pureed foods. Medications need to be in gel form, since both solids and liquids cause problems.

However, those who have no trouble eating or drinking may still find it almost impossible to take a tablet. Some people have a heightened gag reflex and expel pills, while others find that pills stick half-way down. Anxiety over the process makes things worse.

Liquid forms of medications or supplements are available, as are chewable tablets and powders. Topical preparations to rub on the skin are another means of getting needed support. Some consumers find softgels easier to take, or put up with taking many smaller pills to get a sufficient dose. Studies show that people with real difficulty, however, may delay or refuse to take needed medication or vitamins.

Some formulas are put into special capsules that will not dissolve in the stomach, because the ingredients are meant to break down in the large intestine. This is true for systemic enzymes, which people take as anti-inflammatory pain killers, and for probiotics. Strong stomach acids can either digest these prematurely or render them ineffective.

In cases like this, using special straws offers a better solution. Drawing liquid up through a tube is a more effective way to swallow foreign objects than drinking from a glass. The swallowing reflex is stimulated by pursing the lips and sucking. Pills are placed into the straws, rather than placing them on the tongue, which can cause gagging.

The recommended way to use the special straws is to drop a tablet into the top. The pill should fit easily but not loosely, being kept in the tube by the narrower end. The user then puts the end of the tube into a glass of water or other liquid and sucks strongly to get a full mouthful. Drinking this way keeps the head level, which keeps the throat open and works better than tilting the head back.

The straws are sold as single units or in packages of both large and small sizes to accommodate different sized pills. The straws are disposable but can be used several times if they are cleaned thoroughly and dried completely. Any inside moisture may cause tablets to stick. Clinical tests, as well as extensive home use, have shown that using these specially-designed straws helps most people take tablets and capsules without difficulty.




About the Author:



0 commentaires:

Post a Comment