We all have one, but how much do you really know about your tongue?
You might be surprised to learn your tongue can tell you some interesting things about your health.
Tongue Size
A fat tongue could be a warning sign for sleep apnea.
A recent study from University of Pennsylvania researchers found that the tongues of obese people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were larger with more fat.
“Previous studies showed that the human tongue has a high percentage of fat, and that tongue fat and tongue weight were positively correlated with the degree of obesity,” the study’s senior author Richard J. Schwab, M.D., said in a statement.
You May Also Like
“This is the first study that examined OSA patients and found higher fat deposits in obstructive sleep apnea patients than in those without OSA.”
Tongue color
Tongue color can give your doctor hints about your health.
A healthy tongue is a nice pink shade — except for right after it has devoured blue ice cream or purple candy.
When your tongue is not its normal pink color, you could have an underlying health issue. Below are other colors your tongue may be and what they could mean.
Red. A red (not dark pink) tongue could indicate as something as simple as a B vitamin deficiency, which can be remedied by supplementation. Scarlet fever, eczema, and Kawasaki disease may also cause your tongue to turn red. Red patches with white borders along your tongue is a rare…
