Foot cramps? Shivers? They're usually just a nuisance, but here's what these strange symptoms may be trying to tell you (and how to get rid of them).
You Get Light-Headed When You Stand Up Quickly
The explanation: 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 fix: 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.
When to see a doctor: If the light-headedness
persists or if you actually faint.
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You Sometimes Get a Painful Swelling Under Your
Arm
The explanation: 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 fix: Try putting a warm compress on it several
times a day and see if it goes away within a week, says Teng.
When to 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.
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Your Hands Get Sweaty in Certain Situations
The explanation: Sweaty palms happen to everyone now and
then, and they're a normal response to stress or a case of the
jitters.
The fix: Taking a few minutes to try to relax—by
breathing deeply, meditating, or visualizing a tranquil place—may
help prevent or relieve the sweatiness, says Teng.
When to see a doctor: If your hands are constantly
sweaty. You could have hyperhidrosis, a disorder involving
excessive sweating of the hands, feet, or underarms. Applying an
antiperspirant on the palms can treat the condition, says Roshini
Raj, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University and
the author of What the Yuck?! The Freaky & Fabulous Truth
About Your Body ($20; amazon.com). So can a medication prescribed by
your doctor. In very serious cases, surgery can remove the part of
the nerve that's stimulating the sweat glands to become
overactive.
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You Get Foot Cramps at Night
The explanation: A subtle electrolyte imbalance
(involving potassium, magnesium, or calcium) or mild dehydration
may be triggering these cramps, says Teng.
The fix: Get up and walk around, then massage the
muscle to help it relax.
When to see a doctor: If you get them nightly or
during the day when you walk. A condition such as a blood-clotting
disorder or nerve damage could be to blame.
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Your Foot Goes Numb When You're on the Stair
Master
The explanation: When you move your feet in a
repetitive way during a workout, or if your shoes or laces are too
tight, the "tiny nerves between your toes can get pinched as
you put pressure on your foot," says Sabrina Strickland, an
orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York
City, and that can make it feel uncomfortably numb.
The fix: During your workout, wiggle your toes in
your shoes a few times—and loosen your laces if they're too
tight.
When to see a doctor: If numbness happens during
other activities or you can't make it go away. You could have a
nerve problem in your foot.
Your Body Jerks as You Fall Asleep
The explanation: These hypnic jerks, or sleep starts,
probably stem from nerves misfiring as your brain and body
downshift into sleep mode. "An interruption in your
brain's signal to your body to relax can cause the limbs and
head to jerk," says Clete A. Kushida, M.D., the medical
director of the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center, in Redwood City,
California.
The fix: There's nothing you can do to prevent
these harmless jerks. Fortunately, they last only a few
seconds.
When to see a doctor: If they happen frequently or
disturb your sleep, as they might be a sign of sleep apnea or
periodic limb movement disorder.
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You Hear Ringing in Your Ears
The explanation: It's probably tinnitus, a perceived
buzzing or whooshing sound commonly caused by partial hearing loss,
says Cristina Cabrera-Muffly, an otolaryngologist at the Cleveland
Clinic. Medications, including aspirin and some antibiotics;
allergies; and earwax buildup can be to blame.
The fix: There's no cure for tinnitus caused
by hearing loss, but "stress-reduction techniques, such as
biofeedback, may be useful to decrease your brain's perception
of the sound," says Cabrera-Muffly.
When to see a doctor: If the ringing is only in
one ear or is accompanied by vertigo, balance problems, or facial
weakness. These symptoms could indicate an acoustic-nerve
tumor.
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Your Jaw Cracks
The explanation: The temporomandibular (jaw) joint
that's in front of your ear is most likely to blame. "It
cracks when the joint isn't moving correctly or fitting back
into the socket properly," says Raj.
The fix: It should self-correct.
When to see a doctor: If it's accompanied by
pain, headaches, or locking of the jaw. These symptoms could point
to temporomandibular joint disorder, arthritis, or some other kind
of joint damage that requires treatment (like wearing a mouth guard
at night).
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You Have Floaters in Your Eyes
The explanation: 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 fix: Your eye will probably reabsorb them (or
you'll just stop noticing them).
When to see a doctor: If the floaters are black or
are accompanied by flashing lights, which can signal a retinal
tear.
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You Always Sneeze in Threes
The explanation: "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 fix: Sneeze! Once, twice, or four or more
times—all are perfectly normal.
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Your Heart Races When You Wake Up Suddenly
The explanation: "When you're startled,
adrenaline kicks in, and your body's fight-or-flight response
is suddenly turned on," says Moore. And, says Teng, if you
wake up abruptly from REM sleep, when vivid dreams occur, your
heart rate may be naturally elevated.
The fix: In either case, your heart rate should
return to normal within a few minutes.
When to see a doctor: If you also have chest pain
or dizziness.
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You Get Full-Body Shivers
The explanation: "It's probably a momentary
glitch in the body's ability to regulate its temperature,"
says Raj, especially if it lasts mere seconds. (This happens more
during the menopausal transition, since "hormonal changes can
make body-temperature regulation go haywire," says Raj.)
The fix: A shiver should go away on its own in a
minute or two.
When to see a doctor: If a shiver lingers for
days, which could signal an infection. "Just like a fever
occurs with some illnesses," says Raj, "you can get
chills when your immune cells release chemicals to fight off
bugs." Treating the underlying infection should stop the
shivers.
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