Do you ever see some strange mark on your body and immediately panic? Then when you’re panicking, is Web M.D. your next move? It leads you to panic more and consider calling every doctor you have, doesn’t it? Well here are some strange things about your body that usually turn out to be completely normal.
Internal Worms
Did you know that about a hundred years ago, it wasn’t a rare occurrence for worms to be present within the human body, more specifically, within the intestines? As you take a minute to absorb (and cringe about) that, you should know that it wasn’t all negative. Sure, the thought of it is gross, but it just so happens that these worms might be linked to aiding those with multiple sclerosis and allergies, among other afflictions.
It turns out that certain “intestinal worms may be ecological mutualists, providing advantages for their host organisms while also benefitting themselves.”
Hey, at least they have the potential to be helpful to us, in that they “may play a vital role in keeping the gut free of harmful bacteria.” Amazingly, that doesn’t make it sound any less disturbing to us, but then again, maybe you have a stronger stomach than any of us do.
Runny Nose
Speaking of running (laugh, please, we need it), it’s pretty common for runners to be in need of a tissue once their run is finished. Rhinitis, which is the actual name for a “runny nose during exercise,” is no stranger to those outdoor runners, though the time of year does tend to affect it.
As you probably guessed, it’s more of a hassle during the colder months and “especially, of course, during times when allergens like pollen, dust and dry air are high.” This then affects your nasal passes and leads to the subsequent presence of mucus—hold your applause.
Another possible reason for runny noses being more of a common occurrence outside than inside, is “air pollution, particularly the nitrogen dioxide found in car exhaust, [which] is a big trigger.”
If this theory is correct, you might want to reconsider how much you value “fresh air” over a dry nose.
Jumping Frenchmen of Maine
Named for literal Jumping Frenchmen of Maine, this disorder was noted back in 1878, as “a condition characterized by an unusually extreme startle response.” It first afflicted “an isolated population of lumberjacks of French Canadian descent,” for which it is named.
While this was sometimes characterized by the way a person began immediately repeating the words of another in an “uncontrollable” fashion, which is also known as echolalia , or whether they would “[meaninglessly repeat or imitate] … the movements of others,” which is also known as echopraxia, it would vary.
Sometimes, it could even result in what a 1986 abstract deemed “forced obedience.”
Benzodiazepines, which are intended for those who are plagued by extreme anxiety or seizures, can apparently be used to treat one suffering from this as well. If you’re wondering what it is that triggers these reactions, stimuli is the culprit, with “involuntary jumping and falls” being an example.
Adult Acne
Despite what you might have been told during the dark days of high school (or during all of adolescence), acne doesn’t end with graduation. Dr. Ava Shamban, a dermatologist who spoke to Bustle, noted that though plenty of women are under the impression they should not be getting acne in their adult years, this isn’t necessarily the case.
Dr. Shamban attributes the issue to a multitude of possible factors, whether that’s extenuating health issues, not ensuring that the skin is clean and well taken care of, or hormones.
Nose Hairs
The idea that only men ever get nose hair is yet another all-too-common misconception. Rather, similarly to other hair found on the body, though it might prove inconvenient, it’s there for a reason.
This is pointed out by Dr. Shamban who describes that the presence of nose hair is actually “‘necessary to filter out allergens and dust from the environment.’”
Asymetrical Breasts
Bustle spoke to Donnica L. Moore, MD, who assured them that having uneven breasts doesn’t necessarily mean anything is out of the ordinary, per se.
Rather, it’s actually pretty common. This can apply to either a variation in shape or size, which “can be very different,” and you needn’t worry about it.
What we will say, though, is that despite your breasts not being symmetrical likely being normal, it is always best to check with a doctor and keep up on your annual exams. t’s always a good idea to confer with someone who specializes in the field and can speak to your specific circumstances rather than the general population.
Smelling Like a Geriatric
Now we’re not talking about the smell in nursing homes here. That’s different—at least we hope it is. Apparently though, senior citizens aren’t the only ones who “have a distinctive smell, but so do people at all stages of life.”
Tongue Psoriasis
Okay, so it’s not technically psoriasis, but it might as well be. Benign migratory glossitis, which is also referred to as Geographic Tongue, is what you call it when “your mouth starts exhibiting symptoms like that of psoriasis.”
Though the Mayo Clinic makes it clear that the condition is in fact harmless, it has the propensity to make you uncomfortable or “[increase] sensitivity to certain substances.” These substances include, but are not limited to, “hot, spicy, salty or acidic foods.” Lesions that are found on an affected tongue lend it “a map-like, or geographic, appearance.”
As far as additional symptoms are concerned, they’re mostly appearance-related, such as evidence of the lesions (which are said to be “smooth, red, irregularly shaped patches”) that are located either “on the top or side of your tongue.” Alterations in where these lesions can be found, their size, or how big or small they are can also be symptomatic, if any of this is a regular occurrence.
While likely nothing to worry about, if your condition doesn’t clear up within a week, or a maximum of 10 days, then you should be sure to visit either your dentist or another doctor.
Twitching Muscles
If you don’t drink much water while you’re working out, or beforehand, then you might be used to feeling your muscles twitch a bit. According to Christopher Minson, Ph.D., you could be experiencing “muscle fasciculations … [which are] caused by an imbalance of electrolytes in your muscle fibers as they fatigue.”
In order to avoid this, says Men’s Health, you have to ensure you’re adequately hydrated. While sports drinks like Gatorade definitely have electrolytes, you should stick to cold water for the shorter workouts—30 minutes or less.
If you’re doing anything longer, that’s when you resort to Gatorade and the like, because of the “potassium, sodium, and other electrolytes to [help] replenish what your body lost through sweat.”
So long as your twitching fades away quickly, you should be fine. It’s when it lasts “for days or disrupts your sleep, [that] you should see a doctor,” as there is a slight possibility that you might have torn or strained something, according to Michael J. Ryan, Ph.D. If your spasms are more frequent or have gone on for a relatively long time, it might mean something else.
Taste of Metal When Running
If you’re a runner, you might be familiar with that strange taste you get as you’re in the middle of an intense workout.
Well, Men’s Health would like you to know that blood-like taste you can’t help but cringe at is, in fact, blood. According to Jordan Metzl, who happens to be a sports medicine doctor, this taste is a sign that you’ve popped some red blood cells. This leads to the “‘release [of] heme,’ or iron, which is why it tastes like metal.”
It isn’t just your taste that’s being affected by this popping, but your air sacs as well, as the “red blood cells can also leak into your air sacs during really hard efforts.”
Though the idea of contending with popped blood cells might sound a bit disconcerting, you shouldn’t worry much if it’s only a sporadic occurrence. If it’s normal for you though, then you should probably visit a doctor to make sure you’re alright.