an introduction
We have always heard of a football player being hit by a tongue, which also happens to people who are injured by road or work accidents, psychological and neurological trauma, or cramps, all of which can lead to swallowing a tongue. But what is the nature of swallowing the tongue? And how will it be? What are the proper ways to deal with the person who is exposed to such an incident? What are the consequences of immediate treatment in the wrong way? These and other questions will be identified in the following article.
It is our belief that swallowing the tongue occurs in the general sense of the term, that is to withdraw it to the throat, like food completely, is a false belief, and to understand the nature of swallowing the tongue, we must first know the nature of the entry of air into our bodies, when the air enters the human body to reach the lungs Two main Hungarian routes, namely the nose or mouth, then to the pharynx, and through the trachea enter the lungs.
How man swallows his tongue
But what is the relationship of the tongue to this breathing mechanism? The tongue is like any muscle in the human body, it relaxes when a person enters into a coma. When a person is in a deep coma that relaxes all the muscles of the body, including the muscle of the tongue, the tongue is the first muscle to become relaxed, the coma, The rear base slows to block the airway, the base reverses about 3 cm, and prevents the air from entering the lungs completely, leading to suffocation that may cause death.
So, the tongue is the one who blocked the airway because of its relaxation, the question arises, how can we turn the tongue back to its natural course ?, Do we extend our hands in the mouth of the injured person and take the tongue forward ?, or raise his head up ?, or put it in position Slanted to one side? The idea of tilting the person to the side or shaking the head of the injured is a very serious idea, because it is mainly lost consciousness because he was seriously injured in the head, and therefore swallow his tongue, it is very dangerous to move the brain or neck or spine violent movement;
How to treat the condition of swallowing the tongue
The correct way to treat the person swallowing his tongue, opening the airway blocked by swallowing the tongue is done by moving the head of the injured back in a quarter-circular, so the base of the tongue will tighten this movement to the top, and opens the airway again, and enter the air to the lungs correctly The chance of suffocation is missed.
The way to move the head back is by placing a hand on the front of the casualty, the other hand on the chin from the bottom, and gently moving the head by pushing the front and chin at the same time backwards, if the airway can not be opened to the person swallowing his tongue For a reason, a sterile tube should be placed to help the patient breathe, until the problem is resolved properly.
This method must all be learned, not only to act in the case of a soccer player swallowing his tongue, but to treat anyone who may encounter us and has lost consciousness, whether in the street, in a fight, in a car accident, or work, and must prevent any A person who gathered around the injured person, moved him and acted with him in a non-medical manner.
Causes of exposure to tongue swallowing
We often see older people issuing sounds called “horseshoes.” This sound is due to the closure of the airway due to swallowing the tongue. In fact, this person is in a state of severe suffocation because his tongue blocked the airway because he is in a coma and the tongue muscle is completely relaxed. The airway is required to be opened again in the same way as we mentioned above.
Other causes of tongue swallowing are head injuries and brain concussion, which leads to brain dysfunction, increased electrical stimulation of the brain, and nerve convulsions that in turn lead to tongue swallowing. In addition, people who become deficient in the cycle Such as atrial fibrillation, may be exposed to tongue swallowing and muscle convulsions. And the drop in blood sugar to the sub-normal level.
Fracture of the skull
The question that arises is that if a person has lost consciousness, there is a great possibility of a fracture in the spine or at the bottom of the skull, and a loss of consciousness at the same time as a result of falling from altitude or a severe blow to the back or head. Previously until I open the airway for this person again, I turn without swallowing his tongue?
Unfortunately, it would be very dangerous to move the person with the recovery that we talked about in the case of swallowing the tongue, because this may double the fracture in the skull or spine, so we have hurt the person more than the benefit, but, there must be another way we open This way is to push the lower jaw of the person forward, so the jaw will take with it the base of the tongue forward, and prevent choking, or swallowing the tongue.
As soon as the lower jaw is removed, it is pushed back from the back without moving the neck or spine. It will pull the base of the tongue that has closed the airway forward with it. This prevents the suffocation and saves the person without affecting his injury. Were in the head or spine, until the presence of a specialized medical team working to transfer it correctly.
To explain this method accurately, hope with me dear reader: we put our hands down the jaw jaw from the bottom, and put the big finger on the cheeks, and then push the lower jaw forward quietly and synchronously with the hand as the previous way, We have opened the airway without moving the spine permanently.
On the assumption that I could not push the lower jaw forward, whatever the reason, what would I do? Do I leave the patient because there is a possibility of a fracture of his spine or skull, so he will suffocate ?? Certainly not, and in this case we put it in the recovery situation that we mentioned in the first article, that is to say swallowing his tongue and not broken or something, and here we have done the lesser two, and at least ensure that he will not die suffocated from the fall of the tongue in the pharynx.
Any unconscious patient should not be left lying on his back, either open the airway in the first way and stay by his side, or put him in a state of recovery until the presence of a specialized medical team. And always remember that a simple movement – the way to treat the person swallowing his tongue – May be the reason to save the life of another person, and possible at the same time the result of not knowing in this way or the nature of swallowing the tongue to cause the death of an infected person unintentionally, and as the Almighty said: (and revive it as if all the lives of all). (Table 32).