21 Things Our Bodies Tell Us About Our Health

Sep 11, 2018 by apost team

It seems like every company is advertising a product or food that is amazing for your health. This trend has helped people feel healthier and lose weight. Small changes in your lifestyle can quickly add up for your overall health.

To make sure that your lifestyle changes are really working, make sure to pay attention to your body. When something is wrong with your health, there will often be subtle signs in your body. The following changes are a sign that something is going on in your body.

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When the weather is cold or dry, it is normal to developed dry, cracked lips. If you keep having this symptom, it could be a sign of another problem. Dehydration is one of the top causes of chapped lips. Another common cause is an allergic reaction. This allergy could be caused by a metal, lipstick, food, dental hygiene product or medication.

If you have spent the entire day standing on your feet, then swollen feet may just reflect a long day at work. You should pay attention to your feet though because this could be a sign of heart disease. Normally, your heart pumps fluid throughout your body. If your cardiovascular system is not working correctly, the fluid can remain in your body tissue and cause swelling. If you suffer from fluid retention, it may be a sign of heart disease.

When you are healthy, your tongue should be pink and moist. You should be able to easily see your taste buds in the mirror. If your tongue turns pale and dry, it shows an iron deficiency. When this happens, go to your doctor to get your iron levels checked.

Sweat normally has a certain scent to it, so smelling bad after a workout is completely normal. If your sweat's scent changes, then it could be a sign of a problem. When sweat smells like ammonia, it is a sign of a kidney or liver problem. If your sweat smells like acetone, it could be a sign of a blood sugar problem. If you have diabetes, sugar can accumulate on your skin and leave a sweet scent.

There are old superstitions about finger length showing leadership qualities or personality traits. In one recent study by Arthritis and Rheumatism, finger length was actually found to be connected to osteoarthritis. Women who had a longer ring finger and a shorter index finger were more likely to have osteoarthritis in their knees.

Full eyebrows are a popular beauty trend, but your eyebrows can reflect more than just the latest fad. If your eyebrows are losing hair, then it could be a sign of a thyroid disease. Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid can both cause the outer section of your eyebrows to lose hair.

This health tip only works if you practice good hygiene. If you wear dirty socks or never shower, then there is an obvious reason why your feet may smell. When your hygiene is not the problem, then smelly feet are a sign of athlete's foot. This fungal infection is mildly contagious and can cause a scaly rash. It tends to be itchy, so your feet will most likely itch when you take your shoes off.

If you are a woman with excess hair growth, it could be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This disorder can cause a hormonal imbalance and metabolic issues. One of the symptoms is hair growth on your back, face and ears. An estimated 8 to 20 percent of women have PCOS.

At first, you might think that dark, velvety skin is a sign you need to scrub your body more with soap. In reality, this could be a symptom of pre-diabetes or a reaction to medication.

Small valves may be a sign that you need to watch out for. If your calves are under 13 inches in circumference, it means that you have a higher risk of developing a stroke. This may be due to the lack of subcutaneous fat in your lower legs. Normally, subcutaneous fat can help remove fatty acids from the bloodstream and reduce your risk of developing carotid plaque.

It turns out that your breast size could be related to your diabetes risk. Women who had a D cup or larger by the age of 20 had a 1.5 times higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes than women who had an A cup or smaller. This may be due to the amount of fat in the breasts because increased fat makes insulin resistance more likely.

In 2008, Neurology published a study about short arms and Alzheimer’s disease. Apparently, women with an arm span shorter than 60 inches had a 1.5 times higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sometimes, eye swelling is only because of stress or fatigue. If you are not tired, then puffy eyes could be a sign of food sensitivities, salt intake, hormonal changes or allergies. This is especially true for children.

Your BMI could reflect your cognitive abilities as you age. If you are in your 40s and have a larger waist than average, you have a 3.6 times higher chance of developing dementia when you reach your 70s.

It turns out that short people are more likely to live longer lives. As long as you do not encounter a major health issue, being short can boost your longevity.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute compared blood types to cancer risk. It turns out that people with type O blood were less likely to suffer from pancreatic cancer. Individuals with AB, B or A blood had a 44 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer.

If you are born with uneven teeth, then your teeth do not reflect your health. When your teeth become uneven or stunted later on, it is a sign that you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep at night.

Your face can reflect your overall health. While wrinkles are normal as you age, premature wrinkles can be a sign of a problem. If you are starting early menopause, facial wrinkles are a sign that you may be at risk of osteoporosis.

Look at your fingernails and toenails to see how healthy you are. Cysts around your cuticles are a sign that you are developing arthritis. If you have streaks, white spots, side-to-side lines or ridged nails, it is a sign of kidney disease. Side-to-side lines on your nails can also be a sign of stress.

Your excrement can show a lot about your overall health. If your stool's scent changes after eating dairy, it could be a sign that you are lactose intolerant. Meanwhile, a chemical smell in your urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. If you have to urinate frequently, this could be a sign of diabetes. Sweet-smelling urine is another common sign of diabetes.

It is normal to develop dry skin when the weather is dry and cold. If your skin remains dry after drinking water and using moisturizers, it could be caused by something else. Hypothyroidism and diabetes are common causes of dry skin. Another frequent cause of dry skin is a nutrient deficiency. If your body is low on vitamin E, fatty acids, vitamin D, potassium or vitamin A, it could cause dry skin.

If you have noticed bodily changes that have made you worried, talk to your doctor right away. Your body reflects your overall health, so make sure that your doctor knows about any changes that happen.

Make sure your loved ones stay healthy by telling them about the signs of health issues. If you noticed some of the signs in this article, let us know about it!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!