‘I could still breathe, but it was restricted’: Zeenat Aman recalls horror story of having ‘little pill lodged in throat’

Taking a cue, we turned to experts to recognize what to bash successful specified a situation. Here’s what we learned.

Dr Ragitha Binu Krishnan, consultant, section of laryngology, KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum, said that pill dysphagia is simply a information wherever an idiosyncratic faces trouble swallowing tablets oregon pills, adjacent though they whitethorn not person occupation swallowing regular food. “It is not ever related to age. Other underlying conditions see neurological disorders causing musculus weakness, swallowing difficulties, oregon laryngeal and pharyngeal musculus weakness oregon paralysis,” she said.

Dr Kapil Adwani, objective pharmacist, cause accusation centre, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai,  said that the occupation isn’t ever the pill itself but mightiness prevarication successful the oesophagus – the conduit that connects the rima to our stomach. If this conduit is constrictive oregon has occupation moving nutrient down, swallowing becomes difficult.

“If a pill stays stuck successful your esophagus for excessively long, it tin irritate the lining and adjacent origin sores, particularly immoderate medicines similar definite antibiotics and for anemic bones (osteoporosis). There’s besides a hazard of the pill going down the incorrect way, into your windpipe alternatively of your nutrient pipe. This tin pb to choking oregon a superior lung corruption called aspiration pneumonia,” helium said. A atrocious acquisition swallowing pills tin marque immoderate radical anxious astir taking medicine successful the future.

Dr Basavaraj S Kumbar, consultant, interior medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said that the archetypal happening to bash successful these situations is not to panic, careless of however hard that mightiness be. “There volition beryllium immoderate discomfort and symptom since thing is stuck successful the throat, and you’ll consciousness a choking sensation. The assemblage volition respond by salivating and coughing to trigger the cough reflex- its earthy effect whenever it experiences immoderate obstruction, to dislodge the capsule.”

Keep these precautions successful caput portion taking pills. (Source: Freepik)

Besides calming down and not panicking oregon becoming anxious, Dr Basavraj suggested expanding movement. “Start by sipping water, and effort coughing to dislodge the stuck tablet oregon the pill wrong the throat. Also, support an oculus connected your breathing,” helium said. Always telephone for assistance successful specified situations. If there’s a medically trained idiosyncratic successful the room, they tin execute the Heimlich manual successful lawsuit it gets to a constituent wherever you cannot respire oregon speak.

Precautions to support successful mind

Dr Basavraj suggested staying sufficiently hydrated. There are besides devices called pill aids, gels, oregon pill glides, which assistance dissolve them properly. Dr Adwani forbade from lying down right aft taking a pill.

“Pills tin beryllium breached into smaller pieces, crushed, mixed with chromatic oregon swallowed with a tiny portion of mashed banana oregon blended food. to marque swallowing easier. Another effectual method is tucking your chin down (flexing your caput truthful your chin touches your chest) portion swallowing, which tin marque the process easier,” added Dr Krishnan.

DISCLAIMER: This nonfiction is based connected accusation from the nationalist domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your wellness practitioner earlier starting immoderate routine.