Odours, which can come in the form of bad breath, smelly perspiration, stinky feet and other body parts can cause embarrassing moments for one! However, it is interesting to note that bad odours are usually not a sign of a serious health problem.
But in some cases, body odours could potentially be signs of a health problem and warrant medical attention. Here are 5 common odours you should not ignore:
Daily Bad Breath
Got bad breath? You may want to check your oral hygiene. Check for food stuck somewhere in your mouth, especially between your teeth or maybe you can take a look at your diet. Certain “strong-smelling” foods, like raw onions and garlic, can taint your breath for hours. You may also want to check with your dentist for others problems, such as sinusitis, gum disease, dry mouth and cavities that may cause it. Having good oral hygiene habits, like brushing and flossing regularly, help fight bad breath.
Sweet Smelling Breath and Urine
Wondering why your breath or urine smells sweet and fruity? You may need to see the doctor as soon as possible as this can indicate serious health condition. This is common in diabetes where the body is burning fats instead of glucose for energy. As a result, body produces “ketones” which build up in your blood and urine and resulted in emitting the so called sweet smell. You have to get your blood sugar level under control right away to solve this problem.
Strong Scent Urine
Normally, fresh urine should really not have much of a smell if you drink enough fluids. However, with dehydration, urine tend to have a higher concentration of waste products rather than just water. This resulted in the stronger ammonia scent. Certain health conditions such as diabetes and urinary tract infection may also alter the smell of urine. You should consult a doctor as soon as possible if you encounter frequent strong or unusual scent of urine other than the reason of dehydration.
Smelly Feet
Do you feel uncomfortable because of your smelly feet? If they are clean and healthy, your feet should smell like the rest of your body: odourless. Feet create a foul smell as a result of bacteria feeding on sweat. Keep your feet dry all the time and wear breathable socks and shoes. See your doctor if the skin on your feet is inflamed and scaly as these may be signs of a foot infection.
Extremely Sour Smelling Sweat
Body odor isn’t always about poor hygiene habits. Extreme smelly sweat may be an indication of mineral deficiency in magnesium and zinc. These minerals regulate detoxification and elimination of body wastes. Get these minerals from seafood, lean meats, whole grains and legumes. Increasing the amount of green vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuce could also help clean up your scent.
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