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Why Does My Body Do That?
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.
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.
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’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.
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