Is Your Body Trying To Tell You Something?

IF YOUR EYEBROWS ARE SPARSE: Your thyroid might be the problem. Internist Sudha Nagaraj, M.D., an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, explains, the hormones produced by this butterfly-shaped gland in your neck help build and maintain healthy tissue throughout your body-including your hair. If your thyroid is sluggish, your brows or hair can start to thin. Your doctor can order blood tests to see how well your thyroid is functioning. If necessary, you can be prescribed a daily dose of synthetic hormones to get your levels back within a normal range, says Dr. Nagaraj. IF YOU HAVE BEEN CRAVING SUGAR: Registered dietitian Brooke Alpert says,"Dehydration can often masquerade as hunger, even sugar cravings". It is easy to get thirst and hunger confused because they both come from the same part of the brain. Dr. Nagaraj says, "Dehydration causes the release of certain hormones in the body that in turn, can alter the fluid and sugar balance in our system". You can get a false sense of satiety, when you eat sugar instead of quenching your thirst. IF YOUR HANDS ARE PALE AND COOL AND YOU ARE SOMETIMES SHORT OF BREATH: An iron deficiency may be the problem. Iron is used to make the hemoglobin in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. The blood cells first deliver oxygen to essential organs, like your heart and brain, when you do not have enough iron. This causes poor circulation in faraway places like your hands. If your body is deprived of oxygen, you may feel short of breath. This would happen especially when you do something strenuous like climb stairs. Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale University of Medicine, suggests women who have heavy periods mention this to your doctor. They may be at slightly greater risk for iron deficiency. It may turn out to be iron-deficiency anemia. This means your body is not producing enough hemoglobin to match the blood your are losing. Dr. Minkin explains that you may need to take an iron supplement. The dose can vary depending on your levels. You may also need to eat more iron-rich foods, such as, red meat, spinach and raisins. IF YOU ARE ALWAYS HOT: Try cutting back on your caffeine. You can get sweaty and overheated by drinking too much of it. Dr. Minkin explains, "After all, caffeine is a stimulant- it speeds up your pulse and causes blood flow to increase both of which generate heat". She adds, "Stress can have a similar effect because of the adrenaline, so grabbing a coffee or soda when on edge will really make you sweat." Consider drinking half-caffeine for a while and taper down from there if you are considering quitting caffeine. That way you may not get a headache from withdrawal. IF YOUR MOUTH TASTE LIKE PENNIES Have your dentist check for gum disease. Maged Malecki, director of Boston Dental says, "Oral infections like gingivitis and periodontitis can cause your gums to swell and bleed when touched, and when the blood breaks down, it releases iron, leaving you with that penny taste." By the time a person notices these symptoms, unfortunately, gum disease is often advanced. This can eventually cause inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth, which leads to potential tooth loss. Dr. Malecki suggests keeping up with your regular dentist appointments. But if you have a metallic taste in your mouth, go to a dentist immediately. The dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth and their roots to wash away plaque. Then it will be decided whether or not to remove the diseased tissue also.