What Is Your Body Telling You?

Ziba Kashef
Bad breath, body odor, dandruff—just occasional nuisances, right? In fact, many of these common issues may point to a health problem that needs professional care. Before you pooh-pooh your next case of heartburn, read on to see if you should visit your doctor instead of the corner drugstore

Our bodies have a way of telling us when something is amiss healthwise. Sometimes the signs are easy to ignore because they are benign or seem ordinary, such as an odor or mild discomfort. At other times, symptoms are impossible to dismiss but are so baffling or embarrassing, we don’t know what to do.

Odds are, you have experienced one or more of the following common chronic health problems. You may even be grappling with one as you read this article. Take note of what causes these conditions and what you can do on your own or with the help of a physician or alternative health practitioner to nip them in the bud.

Bad breath, or Halitosis

Possible causes Not brushing your teeth, eating certain foods, such as garlic, or smoking. An often-overlooked contributor is bacteria that accumulate on the tongue, releasing an unpleasant smell, says Janet Southerland, DDS, clinical assistant professor and chief of oral medicine at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Less commonly, halitosis may be a sign of an underlying illness such as diabetes, liver or kidney failure, or chronic lung disease. Glenn Ellis, a homeopath and herbalist based outside of Philadelphia, agrees that bad breath is typically triggered by gum disease or tooth decay, but that it may also result from a throat infection or digestive-tract problem such as constipation or acid reflux.

Try these tips If bad breath is chronic, see your dentist, says Southerland. She can determine if you have gum disease that needs treatment and also give you suggestions on cleaning your teeth or dentures. Besides seeing your dentist at least twice a year, brush twice a day, including your tongue, and floss. Gum disease or any other medical problem must be treated, notes Ellis. In the meantime, you also can chew parsley or cloves, which help reduce bacteria in the mouth and disguise odor.

Body Odor

Possible causes When bacteria mix with sweat and other secretions on the skin, they form an odor-causing chemical, says Susan C. Taylor, MD, a Philadelphia dermatologist and founder of brownskin.net. The funk can get bad if you exercise frequently, experience stress or have an inherited tendency to sweat more than others. Poor health, or more specifically a toxic diet, may cause body odor, says Roni DeLuz, RN, PhD, a naturopath who specializes in detoxification and chronic diseases in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts.

Try these tips Minimize sweating by bathing with an antibacterial soap and then applying a combination deodorantantiperspirant, Taylor suggests. If that fails to quell the smell, a dermatologist can prescribe a topical antibiotic. Changes in your eating habits might also diminish the problem. “Increasing your elimination can help prevent body odors,” says DeLuz. She recommends eating fewer animal products, dairy foods and unhealthy fats, while having more fresh vegetables, which contain the natural detoxifier chlorophyll (beet greens, collards, kale), and good fats found in fish such as salmon or trout, or in flaxseed and walnuts.

Dandruff, Fine, Powdery Scales on the Scalp, Itching

Possible causes An over-production of sebum, a scalp secretion. “We also think that a mite, demodex, may play a role,” says Taylor. Like many external symptoms, dandruff may result from underlying health problems, says DeLuz, including a fungus on the scalp, stress, immune system problems, hormone imbalance or poor hygiene.

Try these tips Cleanse the scalp (not just hair) at least once a week using an over-the-counter shampoo with ingredients such as zinc, ketaconazole, tar or salicylic acid, says Taylor. Also avoid hairsprays and mousses that can make the scalp itch more, she advises. If that doesn’t diminish the problem within two weeks, see a dermatologist, who can prescribe medicated shampoos or topical treatments containing anti-fungal agents or corticosteroids. In addition to cleansing, DeLuz suggests massaging the scalp with tea tree oil to improve circulation. Sulphur-containing shampoos may work but they have a strong odor, she says. To improve your general health, consume foods with essential fatty acids, and supplement your diet with B vitamins and biotin.
 

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A possible cure for sex addiction

Nick Chiles
When sex becomes an addiction, how do you get back on track?

From our earliest sexual awakenings as boys, black males learn to connect a generous sexual appetite with the vigor of our manhood. But for some brothas, sex—including the online and DVD versions—becomes a way to escape other long-standing or deepseated issues, to self-medicate, or to drown out pain or depression. “Rather than get medical help, people become reliant on [sex] to deal with their problems,” says Dr. Matthew B. Johnson, a West Orange, New Jersey, psychologist. This can lead to addiction, not to mention the risks of HIV, STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

How can you determine if you’re in the danger zone? Experts say a major sign is when sexual preoccupation interferes with your work or your ability to sustain relationships or have fun. You feel as if you have lost control over the behavior. “The sex is not fulfilling and it’s creating more problems than it’s solving,” Johnson says.

Take the “Male Sexual Addiction Screening Test” at the website of the Sexual Recovery Institute. Go to www.sexualrecovery.com and look under the heading “Recovery Resources.”

Talk openly to a close friend, therapist or minister who won’t be judgmental, to help bring the problem to light.

If an underlying depression or anxiety is fueling your behavior, consult a mental health professional. Also, visit www.sca-recovery.org to learn about Sexual Compulsives Anonymous’ 12-step program.
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Hot Weather Health Emergencies

Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems. Two common problems are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher. within 10-15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Recognizing Heat Stroke
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include:
•an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)
•red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
•rapid, strong pulse
•throbbing headache
•dizziness
•nausea
•confusion
•unconsciousness
What to Do
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim:
Get the victim to a shady area.
Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place in a cool shower; spray with cool water from a garden hose; sponge with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood preset and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
•heavy sweating
•paleness
•muscle cramps
•tiredness
•weakness
•dizziness
•headache
•nausea or vomiting
•fainting
The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if:
•symptoms are severe, or
the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure.
Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
What to Do
Cooling measures that may be effective include:
cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician
•rest
•cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
•an air-conditioned environment
•Lightweight clothing

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Hair Hysteria

Julia Chance
Are the chemicals in beauty products harming our bodies? Real Health sorts through the theories.

If you’re like most women and men, you start each day by slathering yourself top to toe in a bevy of beauty and grooming goos, including cleansers, cosmetics and fragrances. Which is nothing next to the bounty of brands we use to clean, grease, straighten, style and color our ’dos.

However, health groups are raising concerns about possible health effects of long-term exposure to these substances. Recently, California began enforcing legislation (the first of its kind) requiring cosmetic companies to inform state health authorities when their brands contain potentially harmful chemicals. Should you fear what’s on your bathroom shelves? Real Health takes a look.

CLAIM A common shampoo ingredient, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), causes cancer.
FACT Rumors that SLES and another shampoo sudsing agent, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), might be carcinogenic date back decades. But according to the American Cancer Society, though both can irritate skin and eyes, they aren’t known to cause cancer.
CLAIM Hair products contain hormones that raise breast cancer risk.

FACT A study at the University of Pittsburgh found that a common factor among black girls who developed breasts as toddlers was that their mothers had been treating the girls’ hair with products that contained hormones. Researchers continue to examine the link, but increased exposure to hormones is known to up one’s risk for breast cancer.
CLAIM Relaxers cause birth defects.
FACT A 1999 study concluded that using relaxers during pregnancy does not increase the chance of low birth weight or pre-term delivery. However, small amounts of relaxer chemicals may be absorbed into your body, so your fetus might be exposed to them too.

CLAIM Hair dye causes cancer.
FACT A recent study did report that people who colored their hair had an increased risk of developing lymphoma, a form of cancer. However, most cases occurred among people who began coloring their hair in the ’70s, before manufacturers stopped using carcinogenic compounds. Still, researchers are associating a rise in skin allergies to paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical in more than two-thirds of permanent hair dyes.
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