These smells can signal more than a skipped shower.
Body odor can be controlled effectively if you know what to do and how to fix it. It is very easy since hygiene products are everywhere and conveniently accessible. But the problem is that in some people, even if they try to handle their body odor issue, it just can’t be done. Could it be that there is something wrong with the body?
With that, here are 5 body odors you should never ignore…
1. FRUITY BREATH IS A SYMPTOM OF DIABETES
Credit a complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurs when your body runs low on insulin and your blood sugar spikes, says Robert Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. People with Type 1 diabetes generally experience it more than those with Type 2 diabetes do.
Here’s what’s happening: Your body can’t create the energy it needs to function properly, so it begins to break down fatty acids for fuel. This creates a build up of acidic chemicals called ketones in your blood. One of the main acids—acetone (the same component found in nail polish remover)—can leave a fruity smell on your breath, Gabbay says. You might not notice it until someone else mentions it, but doctors can smell it on you as soon as you walk into a room.
The effects of DKA can be serious—even deadly. It can make you vomit and urinate frequently, causing your body to lose fluids at a dangerous rate, he says.
2. STINKY FEET IS A SYMPTOM OF ATHLETE’S FOOT
When you get home, you take off your shoes and there it is – the smell of feet. Well, normally, people just wash it off with an anti-bacterial soap and put food powder. It won’t stink anymore. In other countries, Asian nations to be specific, they submerge their feet in lukewarm water that has “tawas” or Potassium Alum. This Potassium Alum can be in white and grainy powder form or rock form and it is the most effective body deodorant ever. That should be enough to control the smell.
But the problem is that even with tawas, your feet still smells rotten. Wow. This could be a sign of Athlete’s foot, according to American Podiatric Medical Association or APMA. When you have this scaly formation on your toes and it is red with some blisters plus it is smelly, then, it is a positive for Athlete’s foot. You can treat it with an anti-fungal solution or cream like Tinactin.
If the anti-fungal treatment won’t work after 2 weeks, then, it is time to go to your doctor. Do not let it slide because this disorder can be a serious problem – it could transform into Cellulitis which is difficult to treat. It is a combination of fungus and bacteria. Don’t ignore it.
3. Smelly Poop
For real? There is no fragrant poop like ever! Even the royals have smelly poop too, it is fair for everyone in this department. So, what is alarming about that? Well, you know the difference between regular poop smell and the “something different” poop smell. It can be an indication of lactose-intolerance.
Ryan Ungaro, M.D. of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York says that when a person is lactose-intolerant, any food with lactose as consumed by a person who is lactose-intolerant, does not process the food regularly. The lactose food will skip the big intestine and will directly go to the colon. The tummy bacteria will process it through fermentation and that causes the terrible smell.
Is it bad? The smell is totally bad, yes, too much. And again, yes, it is bad for the health too when your poop is too pungent. There could be underlying intestinal problems. Don’t ignore it.
4. Pungent Urine
When your urine smells like “medicine”, then, Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D. of Orlando Health says that it could be a bacterial infection – more like UTI or urinary tract infection. This bacterium may be E.coli which disrupts bladder function and will even cause pain when urinating.
The bladder may be too sensitive and it could contract UTI easily. Treatment of UTI is not hard to come by – you can go to the drugstore and buy some suppository. You can even try at home remedies.
But the problem goes south when the infection become complicated and will cause bigger issues like kidney stones, prostate gland problems and diabetes. Before self-medicating, have it checked out. Don’t ignore it.
5. Bad Breath
Who is not guilty of this? No one. Everybody, at one point, will have bad breath. But it is easy to contain. When it cannot be fixed, that’s where the problem lies.
It could be an issue with sleep apnea, according to Raj Dasgupta, M.D., a professor in University of Southern California. Bacteria will thrive while you sleep at night if you have this condition. So, even if you brush your teeth and gargle with your mouthwash, there will still be that stinky breath.
When sleep apnea is left untreated, it can escalate into cardiovascular diseases. Don’t ignore it.