One of the most embarrassing things that an individual can suffer with is a bad body odor of some description. Although our first insti...
One
of the most embarrassing things that an individual can suffer with is a
bad body odor of some description. Although our first instinct is
usually to get rid of the odor by gargling, wiping or spraying in order
to mask the stench, there could be a greater underlying problem than is
immediately obvious. Here are five odors that you should definitely take
notice of:
If
your breath in the morning is bad enough that it makes your partner
send you to brush your teeth as soon as you wake up, then you could be
dealing with sleep apnea. This is especially true if you brush and floss
religiously before going to bed each night.
Sleep
apnea is a chronic disorder that makes you stop and start breathing
periodically throughout the night. This makes your mouth dry, and allows
bacteria to breed more easily in your throat. Some of these bacteria
even produce a sulphurous gas that makes your breath smell of rotten
eggs. If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, be sure to get a
sleep test.
Lactose
intolerance arises from the body not producing enough lactase, which is
an enzyme that breaks down lactose in the small intestine. When there
isn’t enough lactase present, the small intestine sends the lactose in
the food you ate straight to your colon, where it ferments and creates a
foul odor. Some 65% of all people have problems digesting dairy, so
check with your doctor to see if you need to make dietary changes.
3. Strong-smelling urine
Should
you have just eaten asparagus or been out for a few alcoholic
beverages, then it’s perfectly normal to have urine that smells a
little. However, if you’ve done neither of those things and your urine
has a strong, nasty smell, then it could mean that you have a urinary
tract infection.
Diabetic
ketoacidosis occurs when the body runs low on insulin, resulting in a
spike in blood sugar. This is more common in people with Type 1 diabetes
than in people who have Type 2 diabetes. When the body doesn’t have
enough energy, it breaks down fatty acids for fuel. One of those acids
is called acetone, which gives your breath a fruity smell.
It’s
understandable to have smelly feet after a long run without socks on
during a hot summer afternoon, but it’s a whole other matter if your
feet stink constantly, regardless of any deodorizations you take.
Constantly smell feet are a sign of athlete’s foot.
Athlete’s
foot is caused by a combination of fungus and bacteria that eats away
at the skin between your toes and on your feat. What’s worse is that
athlete’s foot can be spread to other parts of the body. Athlete’s foot
can be cleared up easily with medications such as Lotrimin or Tinactin.
If you have it, just make sure you take care of it as soon as you can,
because it could lead to more complicated skin conditions such as
cellulitis.