Language... as a mirror of health

You probably know that many painful processes occurring in our body, one way or another, leave their “imprint” on the tongue. Let's go to the mirror and show it our tongue. Trembling of the tongue protruding from the mouth may indicate diseases of the nervous system, thyrotoxicosis (increased function of the thyroid gland), mercury poisoning or... alcoholism! If your tongue is thickened, with teeth marks along the edges, this indicates problems with the digestive system. If it is also red, covered with cracks and ulcers, these are signs of inflammation of the tongue, glossitis.

A significant increase in the size of the tongue, when it can hardly fit in the mouth, is characteristic of acromegaly (increased function of the pituitary gland), hypothyroidism (decreased function of the thyroid gland), and Down's disease. The back of the tongue is covered with taste buds, so a “healthy” tongue appears velvety. With various diseases, the papillae can decrease in size, become less pronounced (atrophy), or, conversely, increase (hypertrophy).

A smooth surface of the tongue, the so-called “polished” or “varnished” tongue, often appears with iron deficiency and B12 deficiency (pernicious) anemia, as well as with a deficiency of vitamins B2 and PP. The factors that lead to such changes in the mucous membrane of the tongue also affect the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines: the same changes occur there - atrophy of the epithelium.

The tongue in scarlet fever is “crimson” - bright red with well-defined papillae; in case of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, the papillae are also well-defined. The tongue can also be “folded” and “geographical” - when its surface is covered with folds or has areas of depression and elevation. These are also signs of a digestive system disease.

Plaque on the tongue appears due to poor chewing of food (lack of teeth, fast food), fever, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and exhaustion. Brown plaque often appears with infections of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, with dysentery. It has long been noted that with gastritis with low acidity (hypoacid) the tongue is coated, and with high acidity (hyperacid gastritis, gastric ulcer) the back of the tongue is usually clean.

Ulcers on the tongue can appear due to tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy, and oncological (tumor) diseases. The thought that it is worth contacting an oncologist for advice should arise if there are areas of thickened epithelium on the tongue. People infected with HIV may develop lingual hairy leukoplakia ("hairy tongue") - the root of the tongue (the place where the tongue attaches to the mouth) becomes covered in long, thin growths that look like hair.