How is tongue a window into your overall health?

Ever wondered why doctors check your tongue first when you tell them about your symptoms? The reason behind this is that our tongue is a good indicator of many systemic diseases in our body. Our tongue and mouth tissues are more transparent than your skin- so medical providers can more easily see signs of a medical condition beneath the surface.

The tongue can be a harbinger for the entire well-being of your body. In this blog, SMBT covers some of the most common tongue conditions doctors look for in a patient that can signal a larger health issue.

• Dry tongue

Usually, a dry tongue and mouth stem from basic dehydration that people can easily cure with fluid intake. It can also indicate a condition called xerostomia, in which the mouth’s salivary glands do not produce enough saliva.

• Burning tongue

Some people may experience a burning sensation on the surface of their tongues which is often accompanied by a metallic, bitter taste or a loss of taste as well as red patches on the tongue’s surface. These uncomfortable symptoms may trace back to a condition called geographic tongue, an inflammatory disorder that is linked with emotional stress, vitamin deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances. A burning tongue can also be an indication of burning mouth syndrome, where people experience a chronic sensation on their tongue.

• Limited tongue motion

In addition to examining the tongue’s experience, dentists and doctors also consider the

tongue’s motion range. If a person has trouble swallowing or moving their tongue, they could have an infected salivary gland or a blocked salivary duct.

• Enlarged tongue

In some people, an enlarged tongue can be a result of obesity. Studies show that an increase in body mass index is linked with a greater proportion of fat on the tongue. An enlarged tongue size can also be linked to sleep apnea, a condition where people have lapses in breathing while sleeping.

• Tongue tremors

If a person’s speech changes or they face difficulty in swallowing, it could be a neurological condition. If the doctor notices that the tongue is shrinking or paralyzed, it could possibly be Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, a condition causing the death of neurons that controls a person’s voluntary muscles.

• Bright red tongue

It indicates basic nutritional deficiencies, most commonly, folic acid, and vitamin B-12, which can distort the tongue’s color.

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Will telemedicine revolutionize healthcare forever?

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, healthcare providers are turning to digital platforms such as Zoom, Facetime, and WhatsApp to deliver services that have traditionally been provided face-to-face. These include comprehensive counselling, sex education, and consultations for emergency treatment.

To put it into perspective, a recent survey found that 50% of the IPPF’s European Network reported that they are providing SRH programs through innovative approaches like telemedicine. Before the pandemic, providing medical consultations and prescriptions remotely through telemedicine was already booming. The increased demand was partly because it meant people could sidestep barriers to long waiting times for appointments. Now the global demand for telemedicine is at a whole new level because of the lockdown which limits the movement and also the fear of contracting the virus at public places.

Is telemedicine a makeshift or is it here to stay?

It’s difficult to deny the benefits to both healthcare systems and patients when it comes to telemedicine. Healthcare systems will undoubtedly have less pressure on them when they have only a few people through their doors, healthcare workers will be reduced and those who cannot physically attend appointments have an option to do it from the comfort of their home.

Telemedicine is the revolution that healthcare needs and since the coronavirus outbreak, the benefits of telemedicine access are being felt all across the world. The potential of telemedicine will benefit millions of women, and girls who are facing barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare, and advice. It’s the need of the hour to look at how to harness the momentum of telemedicine and incorporate it into its service delivery beyond the coronavirus crisis.


Why telemedicine is the next big opportunity in Indian HealthTech industry?

• The telemedicine industry is expected to create more than $5.4 billion market opportunity by 2025.

• Startups such as Practo and DocPrime are leading India’s telemedicine market with plenty of untapped resources and opportunities.

Telemedicine is the sector that can bridge the gap between rural and urban India and would be removing many of the infrastructure challenges. Telemedicine will definitely be a big part of walking into a ‘new normal’ once this pandemic is over.


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