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Know Your Body [Health Article]
Learn the common
causes behind your bodyâs little quirks. Whether uncomfortable, embarrassing or
just plain weird, there are some pretty funky things that our bodies do. Curious
about the causes of such reactions as hiccups, goose bumps and eye twitches, we
spoke with Eric Plasker, DC, author of The 100 Year Lifestyle, to get the
real scoop. Read on to discover the common reasons for 14 peculiar bodily
functions.
Yawns
If your body is low on oxygen, your mouth opens wide and
tries to suck more in. Yawning is a way to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide
and oxygen in your blood. Unfortunately, yawns are nearly impossible to
stifle.
Eye Twitches
Serious eye twitches can be a symptom of neurological
disorders, but often there is a more mundane explanation. Common causes for eye
twitches include stress, lack of sleep, extended staring or eye strain. Before
you get frantic, try reducing your stress level, cutting back on caffeine and
catching up on sleep.
Itches
According to Dr. Plasker, our skin most often gets itchy
because of dryness associated with the environment or over-washing; water and
soap can strip skin of its natural oils, thus sapping moisture. Face or body
lotion should be able to keep these types of itches under control; also look for
body washes and soaps labeled. If you still have itchy patches, you may be
experiencing an allergic reaction to a chemical, plant, food, animal or drug.
See an allergist if the itching is persistent.
Hiccups
If you have frequently got a case of the hiccups, try
slowing down when you eat and drink, suggests Dr. Plasker. Doing either too
quickly causes your stomach to swell; this irritates your diaphragm, which
contracts and causes hiccups. You may also get hiccups in emotional situations
or if your body experiences a sudden temperature change. In both of these cases,
the hiccups are a result of a glitch in your nerve pathways, which is why a
sudden scare which might shake up and reset your nerves can sometimes end an
episode.
Goose Bumps
Those tiny bumps that cover your skin when you are cold
or scared are actually a defense mechanism. Goose bumps occur when the arrector
pili, a tiny muscle that connects the hair follicle with skin, contracts and
makes the hair stand on end. If you had more hair like cavemen did the upright
hair would trap air to keep you warm or make you look bushier and therefore more
threatening to predators.
Sneezes
Sneezes happen when your body is trying to expel an
irritant from the nasal cavity. If you have allergies, pollen or pet dander is
usually to blame. If you have a cold, your body makes mucus to trap the virus,
and sneezing helps force it (and the sickness) out of your body. An
over-the-counter allergy or cold medicine helps suppress your reaction to
allergens or reduce mucus production, which should prevent sneezing fits.
Coughs
A cough is another mechanism your body uses to get rid of
irritants. There are special cells along your air passage, says Dr. Plasker,
that recognize irritants and force them out. Common colds, sinus infections and
pneumonia all increase your bodyâs mucus production, which triggers coughing.
Smoking and asthma also tend to irritate the cells. To help cut down on chronic
coughing, exercise regularly and practice good posture to keep your air passage
open.
Charley Horses
These sudden, super-painful muscle spasms can be blamed
on several things, including dehydration or electrolyte imbalances often from
strenuous exercise. After a demanding workout or an extra-long run, sip a sports
drink to keep your system running smoothly. If you experience this type of
cramping, walk around to help relieve the pain.
Shivers
Shivering, says Dr. Plasker, is full-body muscle
twitching. When your temperature drops too low, your body shakes all over in an
attempt to generate heat. The only way to cure these kind of shivers is to get
your temperature back to 98.6°F.
Ear Ringing
Ear ringing, or tinnitus, can happen for two reasons. If
you have fluid or an infection in your middle ear, you may hear a constant buzz.
However, the more common cause is damage to the microscopic ends of your hearing
nerves, which often happens when you are exposed to loud noises. To prevent
permanent damage (and preserve your hearing), wear earplugs at concerts and
sporting events or even when you mow the lawn.
Stomach
Rumbles
As food, liquid and gas move through your digestive
tract, your stomach muscles and intestines contract and cause rumbling noises
borborygmi is the scientific name. Everyoneâs stomach makes noise during
digestion, but if you have extra-loud rumbles, a teaspoon of olive oil or a cup
of herbal tea with lemon may help ease them, says Dr. Plasker.
Limbs Falling Asleep
When there is consistent pressure on part of a limb-like
when you sit on your feet or rest your head on an arm, the pressure squeezes
your nerve pathways and scrambles messages sent to your brain. The mixed
messages make you lose feeling in the squished body part because your brain has
trouble telling it what to do. To prevent a case of pins and needles, avoid
sitting or lying in positions that compress your nerves.
Seeing
Stars
If you stand too quickly, suffer a blow to the head or
are stricken by a migraine, there is a good chance you will see stars as blood
surges to different parts of your body. Generally these tiny flashes of light
will fade in a few seconds. If you see stars for more than a few moments, you
could have a tear or tiny clot in your retina, and you should consult a
physician immediately.
Ear Popping
The Eustachian tube in your inner ear is responsible for
maintaining equal pressure on both sides of your eardrum. When you experience a
rapid change in altitude during takeoff in an airplane or when riding an
elevator in an extra-tall building the Eustachian tube opens to release
pressure, and you hear a pop. To force the tube open (and your ears), squeeze
your nostrils closed while exhaling forcefully through your
nose.
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