5 body odors that may indicate health problems

As much as you like to always smell, it is normal to give off some unpleasant odors after a hard workout or after eating a plate full of garlic.

Usually these unpleasant odors disappear after showering or brushing your teeth. The problem is when they persist even when you have already taken all the necessary steps.

Body odors are taboo in our society because they are associated with poor hygiene habits. However, this is not always the cause of these strange smells.

When our body odors change, they may be a sign that something is not going well.

Get to know five body odors that should not be ignored, as they can be a sign of some diseases:

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1. Fruity breath may be a sign of diabetes.

If you notice or if someone warns you that you have a slightly fruity odor on your breath, this may be a sign of diabetes. This symptom arises from diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of this disease.

Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when the body has a drop in insulin or a spike in blood sugar. Because the body cannot get energy properly, it begins to break down fatty acids as compensation.

One of the products resulting from this breakdown is acetone (the same as nail polish remover products), which can leave a fruity odor on the patient's breath.

Diabetic ketoacidosis can cause frequent vomiting and urination, leading to fluid loss and even death. Therefore, when you notice this odor on your breath, associated with other diabetes symptoms such as fatigue, blurred vision and weight loss for no reason, always seek medical attention.

2. Foot odor may indicate athlete's foot

Bad odor in the feet is very embarrassing as it is often associated with poor hygiene. This, however, is not entirely true: the cause for this bad smell may be athlete's foot, also known as chilblains.

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Is athlete's foot a fungal infection? a ringworm? which can easily be transmitted to other parts of the body or other people by touching or sharing shoes, towels and bedding. Precisely for this reason, it is always safer to wear slippers when bathing or changing places such as gyms.

Therefore, if you notice that in addition to foot odor, your feet have dry skin around the toes, redness and blisters, it is recommended to seek a dermatologist to diagnose and treat the infection.

3. Very smelly stools may be a sign of lactose intolerance.

Okay, there are no scented stools, but if they have a more unpleasant odor than normal, this may indicate a lactose intolerance.

Other symptoms of this condition that often appear concurrently are abdominal bloating, smelly gas, and decreased stool consistency.

Lactose intolerance happens when the small intestine cannot produce enough lactase enzyme and is therefore unable to digest lactose. Thus, lactose does not pass into the bloodstream, but into the colon, where it is fermented by intestinal bacteria.

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The result of this process is precisely the most unpleasant stool odor and other symptoms of lactose intolerance.

4. Strongly smelling urine can mean urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections can lead to the production of urine with a pungent odor, almost resembling some chemical substance. This happens when bacteria such as Escherichia coli enter the urethra and multiply in the bladder, causing an infection.

Urinary tract infections are more common in women than in men because our urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to enter. So if you notice a different odor in your urine, be sure to seek medical attention.

5. Bad breath may be a sign of sleep apnea.

You have good oral hygiene habits and always brush your teeth before bed, but your morning breath is still very unpleasant? This can be a sign of sleep apnea, a disorder that causes people to stop breathing sporadically while sleeping.

Sleep apnea can lead to excessive snoring, causing you to breathe through your mouth at night. This causes a dryness of the oral mucosa, which favors the multiplication of bacteria and the production of a sulphorous gas, which smells like rotten eggs.

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If morning bad breath is accompanied by daytime sleepiness and excessive snoring, it is worth consulting a doctor. In addition to presenting these unpleasant symptoms, sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, reinforcing the need for treatment.

6 reasons why your body smells really bad. (April 2024)