Coca-Cola does not help with food stuck in the esophagus: it is better to come to the hospital and wait for the blockage to pass on its own under the supervision of doctors. This has been demonstrated by a high-quality published study. BMJ.
The standard treatment for food stuck in the esophagus is emergency endoscopy. This method is effective but represents a major intervention. Some studies suggest that cheap and widely available Coca-Cola can eliminate food jams and reduce the burden on emergency personnel.
In the new study, scientists divided 51 patients in the emergency departments of four hospitals in the Netherlands into two groups. 28 people drank eight sips of 25 ml Coca-Cola, one minute apart. The 23 patients in the control group waited for the food to come out of the esophagus, and if this did not happen, endoscopy was performed. People with flesh-containing bones stuck in their esophagus were excluded from the experiment.
17 people in the “Coca-Cola group” and 14 people in the “waiting group” recovered from stuck meals, meaning that the rate of patients recovered in both groups was 61%. Mucosal lesions developed in two patients in the Coca-Cola group and in four patients in the waiting group.
The results mean watchful waiting under medical supervision is the best option for food blockages in the esophagus. However, the authors of the article called for further investigation of Coca-Cola’s potential benefits, as other studies have shown its possible effectiveness.
Previous scientists I learnedIt turns out that refusing heart disease treatment increases the risk of death by 400 percent.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.