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've 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.
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 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. 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’s 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 your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed
while exhaling forcefully through your nose.
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's 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.