As much as you like to be always scented, it is normal to exhale some not very pleasant odors after a heavy workout or after eating a plate full of garlic.
Usually, these nasty odors disappear after showering or brushing your teeth. The problem is when they persist even when you have already taken all the necessary steps.
Body odors are a taboo in our society because they are associated with precarious hygiene habits. However, this is not always the cause of these strange smells.
When the odors in our body show some change, they can be a sign that something is not going well.
Know now five body odors that should not be ignored, as they may be a sign of some diseases:
Table of Contents
1. Fruity breath may be a sign of diabetes
If you notice or if someone tells you that you have a fruity odor on your breath, this can be a sign of diabetes. This symptom arises as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of this disease.
Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body has an insulin fall or a spike in blood sugar. As the body can not get energy in the proper way, it begins to break down the fatty acids as compensation.
One of the products resulting from this break is acetone (the same as the enamel removers), which can leave a fruity odor on the patient’s breath.
Diabetic ketoacidosis can cause frequent vomiting and urge to urinate, leading to fluid loss and even death. Therefore, when you notice this odor in your breath, associated with other symptoms of diabetes, such as fatigue, blurred vision and weight loss without reason, always seek a doctor.
2. Foot odor can indicate athlete’s foot
Bad odor on the feet is very embarrassing, as it is often associated with poor hygiene. This, however, is not entirely true: the cause for this bad odor may be the athlete’s foot, also known as a tinea pedis.
Athlete’s foot is an infection caused by fungi – a ringworm – that can easily be transmitted to other parts of the body or to other people by touching or sharing shoes, towels and bedding. Precisely for this reason, it is always safer to wear slippers when showering or changing places such as gyms.
So if you notice that in addition to the cholé, your feet have dry skin around the fingers, redness and blisters, it is advisable to seek a dermatologist to diagnose and treat the infection.
3. Very malodorous stools may be a sign of lactose intolerance
Okay, there are no perfumed feces, but if they smell more unpleasant than normal, that may indicate lactose intolerance.
Other symptoms of this problem that usually appear concomitantly are abdominal bloating, foul smelling fumes, and decreased stool consistency.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine can not produce enough of the enzyme lactase and is therefore unable to digest lactose. In this way, lactose does not pass into the bloodstream, but into the colon, where it is fermented by intestinal bacteria.
The result of this process is precisely the most unpleasant odor in feces and the other symptoms of lactose intolerance.
4. Urine with very strong odor can mean urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections can lead to the production of urine with a pungent odor, almost resembling some chemical substance. This happens when bacteria like Escherichia coli enter the urethra and multiply in the bladder, causing an infection.
Urinary infections are more common in women than in men because our urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to enter. So if you notice a different odor in your urine, be sure to seek medical advice.Read more about fishy urine .
5. Bad breath may be a sign of sleep apnea
Do you have good oral hygiene habits and always brush your teeth before bed, but still your morning breath is very unpleasant? This may be a sign of sleep apnea, a disorder that causes people to stop breathing sporadically while sleeping.
Sleep apnea can lead to excessive snoring, making you breathe through your mouth at night. This ends up causing a dryness of the buccal mucosa, which favors the multiplication of bacteria and the production of a sulphorous gas, which has the odor of rotten eggs.
If morning bad breath is accompanied by daytime drowsiness and excessive snoring, it is worth consulting a doctor. In addition to presenting these unpleasant symptoms, sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, reinforcing the need for treatment.
