Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Funky Things That Our Bodies Do

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.

Goose Bumps

Those tiny bumps that cover your skin when you’re 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.

Cough

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’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’s 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.