Let's learn about the epiglottis - the small opening in our body that helps us swallow food without getting stuck.

Have you ever had a sudden, choking, or coughing attack while eating or drinking? We've all had this experience. We call it a "throat attack." But have you ever thought that when we swallow hundreds of thousands of times a day, there's a small, but incredibly important part of our body that helps us send food and drink straight to our stomach without getting choked up? That hero is the epiglottis . Today, we'll talk about this little hero.

Simply put, what is the epiglottis?

Imagine that there are two passages inside your throat. One passage is to carry the air you breathe into your lungs. This is called the trachea. The other passage is to carry the food you eat and drink into your stomach. This is called the esophagus.

Now the problem is, both of these pathways start in the same part of the throat. So, what happens if we swallow food and it ends up in the airway? That's where the big problem can be.

The epiglottis is there to prevent this from happening. The epiglottis is a small flap of cartilage, shaped like a leaf. It's located right behind your tongue, right where your breathing begins. That is, above the larynx, or voice box.

How does this little lid work?

Did you know that you swallow between 500 and 700 times a day? Your epiglottis is in action every second. Imagine you're eating a delicious bite of rice.

1. When you are ready to swallow: As you swallow food, the parts of your throat called the larynx and hyoid bone move slightly up and forward.

2. Tongue thrust: This movement gives the epiglottis a slight push from the back of your tongue.

3. The lid closes: At the same time, in response to the pressure of the food in the mouth, the muscles and ligaments that hold the epiglottis together tighten, like a lid closing on a garbage can, causing the epiglottis to fold back and completely close the mouth for breathing.

4. Food goes to the stomach: Now that the airway is closed, the only way for food to go to the mouth is through the esophagus. So the food goes to the stomach without any problems.

5. The lid opens again:After you swallow, everything goes back to where it was. The epiglottis comes back up, opening the way for breathing.

All of this happens in a matter of seconds, without you even noticing. But if there's a slight change in this process, the food "goes down your throat." Then the body suddenly coughs to get rid of the misplaced food.

What problems can come with the epiglottis?

This small part can sometimes get sick. The most important and dangerous of these is epiglottitis .

Simply put, this is when the epiglottis swells. The epiglottis can become swollen and red due to an infection or other cause. Do you know why this is dangerous? The epiglottis is located right next to the mouth, so if it swells, it can completely block the airway.

Let's look at the causes and symptoms of epiglottitis in the table below.

Other problems

Sometimes the epiglottis becomes weak and can no longer stay upright, causing it to fall down into the airway. This is called a "floppy epiglottis." Doctors believe this may also be a cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a condition in which you stop breathing while you sleep.

Who should I seek treatment from for this kind of problem?

If you have symptoms such as a severe sore throat or difficulty swallowing, first see your family doctor (doctor).Meet with him. He will examine you and, if necessary, refer you to an otolaryngologist or ENT specialist.

Remember, if you have difficulty breathing, it is an emergency, and you should go directly to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .

Can cancer develop in the epiglottis?

Yes, it is possible, although rare. Epiglottic cancer is a type of laryngeal cancer. About 35% of laryngeal cancers start in the epiglottis. Therefore, it is important for people who smoke and drink alcohol to be aware of this as well.

What can we do to keep our epiglottis healthy?

There are a few simple things we can do to protect this small but precious part.

• Avoid smoking: Smoking is a major cause of epiglottitis. If you are a smoker, talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.
• Cool down hot drinks: Drinking very hot drinks like tea can damage the epiglottis. So it's best to let it cool down a bit before drinking.
• Protect yourself from infections: Wash your hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Stay away from people who are sneezing or coughing.
• Don't talk while eating: Our grandparents used to say, "Don't talk while eating, it will go down your throat." There is a great scientific truth to it. We need to keep our breathing open while we talk. If we swallow in the meantime, we can miss the exact moment when the epiglottis closes and let the food enter our breathing path. Therefore, practice chewing well and swallowing calmly.