Strange aches? Are you smelling something funny? Do you swear your hair actually hurts sometimes? What does it all mean?
Experts agree that most little physical oddities are nothing to worry about, but it’s still a good idea to understand what’s probably going on…and how to tell if the issue is a serious one.
Why: It could be due to a plugged hair follicle or an ingrown hair in your armpit (from shaving, for example) or a swollen lymph node (from an infection).
The solution: Try putting a warm compress on it several times a day and see if it goes away within a week, says Teng.
See a doctor: If it lasts longer or if it worsens (and gets red or irritated). “It could be a sign of a breast infection, a cyst, or a tumor,” says Teng.
Why: If you have a sudden increase in floaters, or have intense flashes of light, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. These could be signs of a detached retina – the part of your eye that sends images to your brain. Without medical attention, it could lead to blindness. Detachment of the retina may be associated with a physical injury or an eye disease such as glaucoma. Those little white specks that drift across your field of vision are probably just tiny pieces of tissue that stray into the vitreous, the jelly-filled chamber of each eye, says Ruth D. Williams, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The solution: Your eye will probably reabsorb them (or you’ll just stop noticing them).
See a doctor: If those specs are black or are accompanied by flashing lights, which can signal a retinal tear.
Why: “Sneezing is a protective reflex,” says Nathanael Horne, a physician in New York City. “There’s something irritating in the nasal passages, and your nose wants to get rid of it.” So you’ll sneeze until the job gets done.
The solution: Sneeze! Once, twice, or four or more times—all are perfectly normal.
Why: You could be mildly dehydrated. Or you might have orthostatic hypotension (a.k.a. postural hypotension), which occurs when blood rushes to your feet and away from your head as you stand up suddenly. (People with low blood pressure can be especially prone to this phenomenon.)
The solution: Drink plenty of fluids and be sure that when you stand up, you do it slowly, says Donnica Moore, a physician in Far Hills, New Jersey. If you see stars anyway, grab a table or a chair to stabilize yourself or sit back down.
See a doctor: If the light-headedness persists.
Why: It’s probably
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