Table of contents:
- The cause of body odor is by certain health conditions
- 1. Foot odor can be water fleas
- 2. The smell of feces is foul
- 3. Urine that smells strong can be a symptom of urinary tract infection
- 4. The breath of diabetic people
- 5. Poor breath can also be a sign of sleep apnea
The cause of body odor isn't just because you haven't showered for days or because you're just sweating. In fact, there are several signs of health problems that can arise through scents from different parts of your body. What kind of smell does that mean? Check out the explanation extracted from Men's Health below.
The cause of body odor is by certain health conditions
1. Foot odor can be water fleas
If your shoes, socks, and feet constantly smell bad, even without wearing your sneakers, you could be getting water fleas. Water fleas are a fungal infection that can make your feet and other infected areas very uncomfortable and smell bad.
If you see dry and scaly skin, redness, or blisters when examining your feet, this could be a sign of water fleas. Other signs include a pale grayish coating or dead skin, usually between the toes. This skin may also be moist, tender, and very foul smelling. You can treat it with antifungal drugs. However, if it is severe, consult a doctor for further treatment.
2. The smell of feces is foul
It is undeniable that all feces give off an unpleasant odor. However, if the smell is too foul and pungent, then something is wrong with your intestines. According to dr. Ryan Ungaro, assistant professor of gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, causes this stool odor to occur when your small intestine doesn't produce enough of an enzyme called lactase. The intestine becomes unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.
So when your small intestine digests lactose directly into your large intestine, but can't digest it enough, it can cause bloating and foul-smelling stools. This is also known as lactose intolerance.
3. Urine that smells strong can be a symptom of urinary tract infection
The characteristic odor of normal, healthy urine is usually not strong. However, if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), you can produce urine that smells pungent, almost chemical, according to Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., a urologist at Orlando Health.
Usually this happens after bacteria E. coli invades your urinary tract and urethra. These bacteria multiply in your bladder and cause infection. UTIs are more common in women than men. This is because the tubes that drain the bladder are shorter in women.
4. The breath of diabetic people
Diabetes occurs when insulin levels work abnormally in your body. The body also cannot produce energy for daily activities. Then, the body will start to break down fatty acids for fuel. So that the body will create the formation of chemicals called ketones in your blood.
One of the acids that comes out of this can be one of the causes of the smell in your breath, you know. In addition, the release of ketones in your body can make you vomit and urinate frequently, even causing your body to lose excess fluid.
5. Poor breath can also be a sign of sleep apnea
The cause of body odor, which can be detected through breath, can indicate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can also make you snore excessively and cause you to breathe through your mouth, says Raj Dasgupta, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California.
The condition of breathing through the mouth will make the mouth dry. So, bacteria multiply more easily in it. Not infrequently, your breath smells bad when you wake up. This sleep disorder is usually associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
It is better to consult a doctor immediately. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend a CPAP breath aid to keep your airways open while you sleep.
