Off The Record

12 Messages Your Body Is Sending You (That You Might Not Have Noticed)

Published on January 29, 2025

Physical symptoms of sickness might occasionally be rather obvious. Food poisoning may be indicated by an unsettled stomach.

For men, a heart attack may be indicated by chest symptoms and a tingling sensation in the left arm. But there are other things your body is telling you that might not be so clear-cut.

Did you realize, for instance, that swollen feet could indicate that you need to see a cardiologist?

It makes sense that there are indicators of your health across your entire body.

Your body’s indicators, ranging from your head to your toes, can help you predict future illnesses or signal when you should seek immediate medical attention.

Find out the unexpected things your body is telling you by reading on.

Swollen Feet Could Show Heart Problems

The human body is a remarkable system of interrelated parts. It is possible for one body part to accomplish something that has an unexpected effect on another.

A person with congestive heart failure, for instance, may have swollen legs and feet. This is because blood flow is impeded by heart failure, particularly in the extremities.

The liver and digestive tract are also affected by the illness.

Going Bald Could Be Bad News For Your Ticker

Baldness may indicate a man’s advanced age, but it can also indicate underlying health issues.

A study that looked at men, baldness, heart disease, and cholesterol found that men with high cholesterol and baldness had a higher risk of developing heart disease.

Surprisingly, the study found that heart disease was less common in men with full heads of hair who had cholesterol levels comparable to those of bald men.

Therefore, it would be prudent for men who are becoming bald to see their cardiologist rather than grab for the Rogaine.

Nail Pitting Could Indicate Arthritis

Fifty million individuals in America suffer from arthritis, a disorder that causes pain in their joints. Although the disease is evidently painful, other symptoms besides stiff joints may also indicate it.

For instance, pitting of the nails may be a sign of the painful condition.

Psoriasis can also be identified by nail pitting, which is the appearance of tiny indentations in the fingernails.

Bad Gums Could Mean A Bad Heart

Although it seems odd, there appears to be a connection between the lips and the heart.

In addition to making the gums swell, gum disease can also cause the gums to recede.

More than just an unpleasant grin has been associated with periodontal disease.

An elevated risk of heart disease and stroke has been associated with the persistent illness. Additionally, it has been connected to a pregnant woman’s birth weight being lower.

This is the perfect motivation to brush and floss every day if you’ve ever needed it.

Going Number One Can Be A Sign Of Type Two

A disorder that affects millions of people is type 2 diabetes. It results from the body’s inability to use insulin effectively.

There are a number of indicators that someone has the illness, but one may stand out more than the others.

Urination is frequent as a result of the illness. Because water is taken from less useful portions of the body to thin the blood in order to digest glucose, persons with diabetes feel thirstier than they actually are and drink more to make up for it.

Urination increases as a result of the high fluid consumption.

Long Limbs, Low Risk Of A Brain Disorder

It’s common knowledge that eating fish is excellent for the brain, but few people are likely aware that having long limbs is also beneficial.

One study found that those with longer arms and legs have a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

According to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, women who had longer legs had a 16% lower risk of developing dementia for every inch of leg length. But compared to women with long arms, those with short arms are 50% more at risk.

The findings were not nearly the same for men in the study; those with longer arms were just 6% less likely to develop a brain problem.

Although the actual cause of this is unknown, scientists believe it may be related to early nutrition.

A Longer Toe, More Foot Problems

Morton’s Toe, a disease in which the second toe is longer than the big toe, affects a lot of people. There is considerably more to this phenomenon than just an aesthetic concern.

Those who suffer from Morton’s Toe may have a number of issues. Balance and weight distribution on the foot are disrupted due to the significantly longer second toe.

Walking becomes more unpleasant overall as a result of the increased likelihood of calluses developing under the toe.

Fortunately, the problem can be readily accommodated by re-balancing the foot using a shoe insert or by wearing appropriate footwear.

Ear Issues Can Mean Kidney Problems

Although it may seem strange, there is scientific evidence that the look of the ears might be a good indicator of kidney health.

According to one study, newborns with flat or folded ears are more likely to have underdeveloped kidneys.

Researchers also discovered that kidneys and ears grow in the womb at roughly the same period.

The presence of external ear abnormalities may be a sign of other renal issues. Ear pits, for instance, are a sign of certain renal and urinary tract conditions.

Long Fingers Means More Testestrone

Men who have longer ring fingers than pointer fingers are more likely to have had higher levels of testosterone during pregnancy, which can have unexpected health effects.

Scientists say this has significant, and not always positive, effects on men’s bodies and brains after birth.

Compared to men with shorter ring fingers, those with longer ones are typically more aggressive. Moreover, research indicates that men with larger ring fingers are more likely to develop ADHD, have lower verbal communication skills, and be at risk for autism.

Wide Faced Men Have Eyes That Stray

A person’s face can reveal a lot about them. Scars might reveal whether a person likes being outside or even whether they like fighting.

Even stranger is the possibility that guys with broad faces are concealing something from their romantic partners.

One study from Nipissing University found that men with particular face type are more likely to cheat.

The reason for this is that guys with broad faces may desire more partners due to their increased sex drive.

The Smell Of Your Sweat Could Be A Diagnosis

Sweating may actually tell someone what’s going on in their body and can be a valuable warning sign when it comes to internal disorders, even though it’s not exactly an interesting conversation topic.

A person who discovers that their perspiration has a faint acetone-like smell is most likely experiencing low blood sugar.

Additionally, it could be wise to see a doctor if their perspiration has an unusual ammonia-like smell, as this could be an early indicator of liver or renal issues.