Our body odor can tell a lot about our health condition. That’s when the consequences become lethal.
We all emit unpleasant smells under certain circumstances. Most of the time, this problem can be solved with a quick shower, a pass of deodorant and a splash of perfume. Some body odors, however, could be symptomatic of a serious health problem. Understanding that the smell of rotten eggs should be a cause for concern for anyone who experiences it.
Giulia Guerrini, a chief pharmacist at Digital Pharmacy Medino, explained to the Sun That the worst thing we can do when we notice a bad smell on us is to ignore it. “You owe it to yourself (and the people around you!) to identify the cause as quickly as possible and get the proper treatment,” she said.
The signals of the body not to be underestimated
Let’s take a closer look at what bad body odor could be a sign of.
1. You are overweight
Overweight or obese people are more likely to have bad body odor, remarks Dr. Sophie Newton. This is because they have many folds on their skin, which are breeding grounds for bacteria. An earlier study also found that overweight people are more likely to have a poor sense of smell than thinner people. In short, older people will be less likely to notice that they smell bad.
2. Diabetes
If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of ketoacidosis, which can have a “fruity” smell, according to the expert. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body, which cannot use sugar for energy and starts using fat instead. Untreated diabetes can lead to long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss or even death.
3. Liver disease
People who have liver disease can smell bad, warns Dr. Sophie. Sufferers may experience excessive sweating and a foul-smelling odor similar to that of rotten eggs. When a liver stops working, or slows down, various toxins and contaminants build up in urine, sweat and breath. The term “liver disease” refers to any of several conditions that can affect and damage the liver. Left untreated, liver disease can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
4. Kidney failure
Kidney failure is a long-term condition in which the organs that filter waste products from the blood don’t work as well as they should. If the kidneys fail, the body will become overloaded with toxins and this can be very dangerous. People who have any conditions may have a body odor that resembles ammonia…