Smells Your Body Makes That Tells You Something Is Wrong

Smell is one of the five primary senses. The way we detect odor is from the air we be breath in through our nose, and the back of the mouth when chewing food. When we smell odors, molecules are transmitted into our noses and absorbed into a mucous membrane called the olfactory epithelium. Bony cushions in the nose, called turbinates, assist the movement of air. When the odor is absorbed into the mucus, it reaches the cilia and attaches to a receptor cell that sends a signal to the nerve fibers in our brains called axons. We then pick up on a scent and can discern whether it is pleasing to us or not. Our sense of smell is delicate and can also tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy scents. For instance, we can sense if a something is wrong with our bodies internally and externally just by scent.

Fruity Breath

If you have breath that smells sweet like fruit, you may have a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a life-threatening condition that occurs among individuals who have diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes that occurs when the body has high levels of ketones. When treated promptly, lives can be saved, and death avoided. Fruity breath can also be a sign of acute liver failure when accompanied by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper abdomen, and loss of appetite.

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome is another illness identified by the presence of fruity breath. This condition occurs in individuals with diabetes who have an extremely high amount of sugar in their blood. Individuals with this illness can become severely ill and require immediate medical attention. The signs of this condition are nausea, frequent urination, vomiting, and severe fatigue.

Continue reading to uncover the next smell to watch out for.

Skin Issues With A Smell

There are several skin issues with smells, including fish odor syndrome, eczema, and a variety of skin infections. Fish odor syndrome is a rare metabolic disorder that affects the normal production of flavin an enzyme that contains monooxygenase 3. Individuals with this condition have an offensive body odor that smells like fish because of their body’s tendency to excrete uncontrollable amounts of trimethylaminuria. It is secreted in the urine, sweat an on the breath of these individuals.

Eczema is one of the most common skin issues with smell. It tends to smell like rotten meat or cheese and becomes worse if you have a lousy diet. The topical immunosuppressants and antihistamines can also cause the scent to worsen. These agents change your hormonal chemistry and may not allow wounds to heal properly, which produces a displeasing odor. A skin infection called intertrigo can also cause smelly skin and develops in moist areas of the body, including the armpits, genitals, and beneath the breasts. It looks like a red or reddish-brown rash and is raw, itchy with a foul odor.

Get to know the next unfortunate smell your body might produce when something is wrong.