Understanding the condition of the tongue swallowed and the right handling

Tongue swallowing does not mean the tongue goes into the throat. Swallowed tongue is a condition of the tongue's position shifting backwards, thereby closing the respiratory tract located in the neck. Swallowed tongue is a very dangerous condition. If the respiratory tract is blocked by the tongue for too long, the flow of air from the nose and mouth will not flow into the lungs. As a result, a person will have difficulty breathing, oxygen supply to the lungs and heart is reduced, then can lead to death.

Cause of Tongue Swallowing

In everyday life, the term tongue swallowed is often associated with several conditions below:

• Sports Injury

In the world of sports, cases of tongue swallowing are generally caused by physical impact or trauma. This case is found in many sports in soccer, boxing, or rugby. Collision can make someone lose consciousness. When consciousness decreases, muscles throughout the body become limp, including the muscles on the tongue. This condition can cause the tongue to shift backward and obstruct the respiratory tract, so that air supply to the lungs is blocked.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Swallowed tongue can also occur in people with sleep apnea, especially those who have a large tongue, or someone who is obese. Obstructive sleep apnea is a respiratory disorder that occurs when someone sleeps. Apart from the influence of the tongue being swallowed which blocks the airway, sleep apnea also occurs because the throat wall narrows. As a result, air flow becomes obstructed.

In addition, the term tongue swallowed is often associated with seizure conditions due to the influence of epilepsy. The tongue swallowed during epileptic seizures is actually just a myth. In fact, a person who experiences seizures will not experience tongue swallowing. Possible risks while having a seizure are a tongue bitten.

How to Handle a Swallowed Tongue

Swallowing the tongue is an emergency and dangerous condition, so the victim must get fast and proper treatment. Swallowed tongue can be recognized by a number of symptoms, but the most common is shortness of breath. If you encounter a situation like this, don't panic. Stay calm and give help as soon as possible by:

• Make sure the patient is swallowed tongue lying on his back in a flat position. Avoid padding under the head.
• Push your chin / lower jaw up until your head looks up. The tongue will return to its normal position and the airways open.
• Pull the tongue to the normal position using your fingers as soon as possible so that the respiratory tract opens again.
• Seek help from medical personnel who may be around the location, or contact paramedics / ambulances immediately.

Appropriate treatment will prevent victims from life-threatening effects. If the patient's condition swallows the tongue does not improve or get worse, immediately take it to the hospital to get treatment and direct action from a doctor.