Researchers contend that the human body
“talks,” by cracking, popping, growling, ringing, whistling, etc. They
are of the view that taking a cue from any of these noises — most of
which come on when we are fully awake — will save us the hassles of
spending money on preventable hospital visits.
What sort of language does your body speak, and how can you decode it? Here we go…
Cracking knees and joints
Have you ever heard your joints crack?
Bone doctors contend that the bones of the neck, knuckles, back, joints
and those in the back sometimes crackle, producing audible or inaudible
noise as they do, especially when we engage in certain physical
activities, including climbing or descending staircases, among others.
Dr. Abiodun Akerele says a healthy joint
comprises bones that are surrounded by smooth cartilage. She adds, “The
cartilage itself is protected by a capsule lined with synovial
membranes that produces fluid. This fluid contains oxygen, nitrogen and
carbon dioxide gasses. When joints crack, it could be the result of the
joint capsule being rapidly stretched, which causes the formation and
release of gas bubbles. The release of gas can cause the popping sound
you feel and sometimes hear.”
Physicians say in an unhealthy joint
where the cartilage may have become rough as a result of deterioration,
the sound of joints cracking may be produced simply from friction.
Akerele explains, “Even in a healthy
joint, friction can cause a person’s joints to crack audibly. This is
because, as the joints are compressed and expanded, the tendons can
stretch out of place and then make a popping sound when they move back
into their original place.”
Experts say that willfully or forcefully
causing joints to crack is unhealthy, though others believe it causes
no lasting damage. They advise, however, that if you experience pain
when your joints crack or if the joints swell up as a result, you should
see a physician.
“The physician may recommend medication
to relieve the pain and swelling and will probably check for damage to
ligaments, tendons, or cartilage,” Akerele counsels.
Rumbling stomach
A nutritionist, Dr. Remi Omotunde, says
sometimes, after some meal, the stomach can start gurgling or rumbling.
At other times, it rumbles because you’ve not had a meal, and it might
be your body’s way of informing you that it’s running out of “fuel.”
Nutritionists say typically, the
growling is due to normal digestion. They reveal that hunger and
appetite are controlled by a complex system of hormone-like substances
primarily made by your digestive system; and that when you haven’t eaten
for a while, these substances are released and cause a part of your
brain — called the hypothalamus — to “switch on” your desire to eat.
The online portal, yahooanswers.com,
explains further, “A message is then sent to your stomach and
intestines. This triggers muscle contractions and the release of acids
and other digestive fluids — which causes the rumbling, grumbling sounds
you hear — as your body prepares for you to eat. The thought, sight or
smell of food also can trigger this response.”
Physicians however warn that sometimes,
excessive stomach noise can be a symptom of an underlying
gastrointestinal disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome. When this
is the case, they note, stomach noise usually is accompanied by other
signs and symptoms such as sloashing when pressed, bloating, cramping,
diarrhoea or excess gas. “When this happens, don’t hesitate to see the
doctor,” Omotunde warns.
Ringing in the ear
There’s cause for concern when it
appears someone is ringing bell near you, or if your ears buzz
endlessly. “This may be an indication of tinnitus, which is common in
people 40 years and older,” says Ear, Nose & Throat specialist, Dr.
Ola Daniel.
Daniel notes that the noise you hear is
actually coming from your head, and that your brain misinterprets it as
noise because it’s a spurious electrical signal.
He warns that the trigger may be inner-ear damage, especially after one may have been exposed to loud noise.
He says, “Almost all of us experience
tinnitus temporarily, perhaps for a few hours after a concert or any
other occasion where our ears are subjected to noise. Tinnitus becomes a
problem when this noise persists and/or increases.”
He adds, “Normally, the ringing in the
ears will disappear, but it may also become permanent, depending on the
extent of the damage. And that is why the majority of people who suffer
from tinnitus find it very disturbing and uncomfortable,” he says.
He warns those who use listening devices
such as MP3, iPod, etc., to expose their ears to the minimal level of
noise in order to curb associated spurious electrical signals.
‘Whistling’ through the nose
Daniel says sometimes, when the nose is
congested as a result of cattarrh, air may move through a passage that
may be too narrow, causeing a soft, whistling noise. He, however, warns
that if the whistling starts immediately after an injury, it’s a cause
for concern.
“This is because nasal injuries are the
most common facial traumas; and your doctor may need to do an assessment
of these injuries in order to determine if you have sustained nasal
fracture and associated head and facial injuries,” Daniel counsels.
As for those who engage in uncouth
nose-picking, Daniel warns that vigorous bout of nose- picking can cause
a perforation in the septum — that is the hole in the wall between
nasal passages, which may require surgery.