Can I swallow my tongue? No, it's a myth. Although the tongue can move in different directions, being attached to the base of your mouth generally keeps it from moving that far back.
If it does move backwards, say, during a seizure, then other muscles kick in to open up the throat.
Sadly, this myth has led to deaths. A 2025 study found that trying to prevent athletes from swallowing their tongues as the first response to a heart attack led to death in two-thirds of cases.
By contrast, 74 per cent of people survive when they receive defibrillation within three minutes of a heart attack.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Jonnie Norris, via email) 'Can I swallow my tongue?'
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