A condition where the tongue drops back or falls into the throat, potentially blocking the airway and causing breathing difficulties, especially during sleep.
From Greek 'glossa' (tongue) + 'ptosis' (falling, drooping). The '-ptosis' suffix comes from the same root meaning 'to fall' and appears in medical terms like 'ptosis' (drooping eyelid).
Glossoptosis is actually dangerous—it can cause sleep apnea where your airway gets blocked multiple times a night, and treating it might involve special positioning, devices, or even surgery to keep that tongue from dropping back.
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