Learn the common causes behind your body's little quirks, Must Read
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Learn the common causes behind your body's little quirks, Must Read
by Haya 15th August 2010, 9:50 am
Learn the common causes behind your body's 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
moisturizing 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 body's 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're 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. Everyone's 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'll 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 pop your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed while exhaling
forcefully through your nose.
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
moisturizing 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 body's 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're 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. Everyone's 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'll 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 pop your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed while exhaling
forcefully through your nose.
Haya- Senior Member
Re: Learn the common causes behind your body's little quirks, Must Read
by D.M 16th August 2010, 1:44 pm
Nice sharing
thankx haya g
thankx haya g
D.M- Moderator
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