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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Girls! Did you know these jobs could be harmful to your heart?

The lifestyle we live greatly impacts our health. Our eating habits, levels of physical activity and dependence on substances contribute to our overall well-being. But, did you know? Recent research shows that some career paths are proving to be more harmful to women’s heart health than others.

In this blog, we look at a number of different studies that have been conducted to support the aforementioned statement.

Managers
Let’s begin with a study conducted in Japan where women in managerial positions, from any industry, faced a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have deemed the reasons for these occupations being a health hazard. Some potential reasons could be the stress of day-to-day management of a team of varying and oftentimes clashing personalities. It could be juggling of the schedules of these personalities along with your own. Or it could be working for un-Godly hours and having to train cattle into corporates!

Social Workers
Through a Women’s Health Initiative study, researchers gathered the data of more than 65,000 women with an average age of 63 who had already experienced menopause. They studied this data on the basis of smoking status, weight, physical activity, nutrition, cholesterol, and blood pressure to find a potential association between heart health status and occupation.
The result of this study showed that women who performed social work were 36% more likely to face heart health issues. This may possibly be due to the harsh realities they have to witness and face on a daily basis. The trauma of others may cause stress to those with an empathetic heart.

Other Occupations 
The result of the aforementioned study also showed that retail cashiers had a 33% higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Nurses, psychiatrists, and home health aides had up to 16% higher risk of heart problems out of which nurses face a 14% heightened risk of heart health complications.

What jobs are good for you?
The same study concluded a few occupations that had lower risks of heart diseases. Turns out, real estate brokers and sales agents had a 24% lower chance of heart issues and administrative assistants had an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Along with the many things you need to consider while starting a new job, you now need to make sure it’s good for your heart!


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