The Tongue as A Window to Your Health

In a previous discussion, we explored the eyes and the wealth of medical information they can reveal. Today, our focus shifts to another intriguing part of the body; the tongue. The tongue, often cited erroneously as the strongest muscle, doesn't hold that title, yet its condition can offer valuable insights into one's health.

A quick one, if someone tells you that the tongue is the strongest muscle, they they you fed you lies because it isn't. Actually, the masseter which is a jaw muscle is the strongest based on weight but while it is not the strongest, it hold strong inference when it comes to your health.

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The normal healthy tongue has the color pink and it possesses little bumps on them known as the pilli but then some people have their tongue pink and smooth in a condition known as Glossitis which can occur as a result of a deficiency of vitamin B12. This can occur as a result of diseases and other conditions such as an autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia where the body creates antibodies to prevent the absorption of vitamin B12. Vegans can also be at high risk of suffering from vitamin B12, but with supplements, they can be fine.

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There is a possibility that you have seen someone whose tongue can touch their noses, well, as you would expect with science, a name was given to it and it is referred to as Gorlin Sign which is common in people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome who have stretchy skin and hyper mobile joint. Also, people suffering from Macroglossia can also be able to do this. People can suffer from macroglassia as a reaction to infection or allergies but then, hypothyroidism can lead to it where there is no enough thyroid hormone causing the tongue to keep growing or amyloidosis where amyloid protein deposit in body organs including the tongue making it grow.

Normally, when we haven't brushed, it is normal to have white patches on the tongue but when we brush our teeth, they should disappear, but when a person still have the white patches after brushing, we could suspect a lot of things including a yeast infection known as thrush (Oral candidiasis) which causes raised white patches that looks like milk curds. It could also be a sign of Leukoplakia which is an irritation plaque of the tongue from alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances and they can develop into cancer. When the patches are on the side, it can be hairy Leukoplakia which is very rare caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and other immunodeficiency diseases.

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Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition where a person have exaggerated response to cold causing the fingers, toes and tongue (Lingual Raynaud's) to change color as a result of the cold sensation which can be caused by an autoimmune disease known as Scleroderma. Another condition that has to do with the tongue is having the tongue look like strawberry as it is red with prominent bumps on its surface. It can be caused by scarlet fever (group A Strep), and it can also happen with Kawasaki disease which causes blood vessel inflammation in kids.

In essence, the tongue emerges as a remarkable indicator, offering glimpses into the intricacies of our health. While the tongue is one organ that we cannot do without seeing, overlooking it is quite common. Understanding these signs can prompt timely interventions, underscoring the importance of paying attention to this often-overlooked organ.