Health is very easy to lose and impossible to return, everyone knows about it. A swollen tongue can become a very unpleasant and dangerous phenomenon, the reasons for which were not completely understood. This phenomenon occurs quite often, there are a large number of prerequisites for its manifestation, which not everyone knows about. Knowing the reason for the increase in language in size, you can quickly get rid of edema or avoid its appearance.
Swollen tongue: causes
The causes of swelling of the tongue are very diverse. This complicates the treatment process, since it is necessary to accurately determine why this phenomenon occurs. The main reasons for the increase in language in size:
- Injury In this case, the tumor appears only on one side.
- Glossitis.
- Infectious diseases. Usually in this case, a person has a swollen tongue with a white coating.
- Allergy.
- Metabolic problems.
- Anaphylactic shock.
- Impaired thyroid function. Then a swollen tongue with tooth imprints is visible. Thyroid treatment is a complex process, but it should be started as soon as possible.
- Congenital diseases, in particular Down syndrome.
- Incorrectly selected denture.
- Incorrect wearing of the denture.
- Malignant tumors.
- Recently done piercing.
- Anemia.
- Malocclusion.
Swollen tongue is a very dangerous phenomenon. In no case should you self-medicate, because you risk incorrectly diagnosing yourself. Then your efforts will not only not help you recover, but may also harm your health.
Additional symptoms
The reason for visiting a doctor may be the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms that accompany a swollen tongue:
- Runny nose.
- Constant sneezing.
- Dermatological rashes.
- Pain or itching in the oral cavity.
- The appearance of white plaque.
- Darkening of the tongue.
- Problems with taste buds.
- Pain in the tongue and entire oral cavity.
- A sharp jump in body temperature, fever.
- Problems with swallowing reflex.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sensation of a foreign object in the oral cavity.
If such symptoms are felt, you should immediately consult a doctor, since the consequences of a swollen tongue can be unpredictable.
Possible consequences of swelling of the tongue
At first glance, it seems that swelling of the tongue is not a big problem. This symptom is easy to eliminate, but the negative effects can manifest so quickly that it will be impossible to do anything.
Swollen tongue leads to:
- asphyxiation and death;
- the development of serious infectious diseases;
- death due to allergic reactions;
- pain shock.
The effects of edema are serious enough to close their eyes to them. Some reasons for the increase in language should be discussed separately.
Swelling after puncture
Many people complain of swollen tongue after a puncture. Photo piercing you can see below. In this case, this phenomenon is not a malfunction in the body.
Piercing injures the tongue, so increasing it in size is a completely natural process. It is important after the puncture to comply with all the doctor's recommendations, rinse on time, keep the oral cavity clean and make sure that purulent formations do not appear.
If within a week the edema did not disappear or new inflammations appeared, then it makes sense to go to the hospital. Normally, the swelling should disappear within 5-7 days, and uncomfortable sensations can occur about two weeks after the puncture.
Simultaneous swelling of the tongue and lips
If the tumor has spread to the lips, this indicates that allergy is manifested. As soon as contact with the stimulus occurs, the tongue swells. A process can happen in minutes. In this case, quick and coordinated action is needed. You need to call an ambulance, because time is very short, if you do not quickly take appropriate measures, the patient will begin to suffocate. While the patient is waiting for the doctor to arrive, contact with the allergen should be excluded, if known.
If, in addition to swelling of the tongue and lips, the throat swells , then the patient must be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. This indicates the worst manifestation of an allergic reaction - anaphylactic shock. A particularly dangerous condition is reinforced by symptoms such as difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Swollen Tongue Treatment
If the causes of swelling of the tongue do not need an ambulance call, then the treatment will depend on the premises of the edema. So, to alleviate the condition of the patient, you need to take such measures:
- If the swelling is caused by a mechanical injury, then it goes away on its own. You should only keep your mouth clean and avoid spicy foods.
- If the cause of edema is glossitis, then you should consult a doctor so that he prescribes the necessary antibiotics.
- If the swelling is caused by an infection, then the symptom should not be treated, but the cause of the tumor. After the disappearance of the disease, the consequences will disappear on their own.
- If you have problems with the thyroid gland, you should go to the hospital to be registered. The tumor will go away as soon as you start treatment.
- If you have genetic diseases, then you need to treat not the cause, but the symptoms. Your doctor will prescribe appropriate medications to relieve swelling.
- When the cause is malignant tumors, you need to visit an oncologist.
There are many folk remedies for removing the tumor. Remember that all of them are suitable only if the cause of the edema is an injury, and a slight one. Then, to eliminate the symptoms, rinse your mouth with a decoction of chamomile, calendula or sage. Also, these tools are suitable for the treatment of swollen tongue after tooth extraction. But in no case do not rinse your mouth with a hot decoction, this will not only increase the pain, but also lead to the fact that the injury will become deeper and more dangerous.
First aid
If in your presence in a person the tongue is swollen to such an extent that it is difficult for him to breathe, then you need to take such actions to provide first aid:
- Call an ambulance.
- Give the patient antihistamines.
- Raise the patient's head slightly so that he does not suffocate.
After the ambulance arrives, the doctor will take appropriate measures and prescribe treatment. Prior to this, you need to act quickly, clearly and smoothly, as the patient can suffocate in a matter of minutes.
Thus, a swollen tongue can talk about dangerous diseases that cannot be ignored. The best solution is to see a doctor, but if you are sure that this phenomenon is caused by minor reasons, then treatment can be carried out independently.