BODY LANGUAGE

You need not undergo complicated scans to detect signs of disorder. Your bulging eyes or bleeding gums are indications of ailments to come. Dr Hemant Thacker tells you about the warning bells our body rings

Did you laugh it off when your child called you a frog because of your bulging eyes? Or were you just 'mildly surprised' why chapped lips came visiting you in summer? It's time you pay attention to something you're going to live with your entire life – your body.
    Intriguing as it sounds, our bodies have mechanisms smart enough to indicate diseases much before they afflict you or simply warn you of your improper food habits. We jotted a list of common symptoms noticed among people. Dr Hemant Thacker explains how the stressed, ignorant Mumbaikar needs to heed to these alarm bells, to save time and money nursing ailments.
BRITTLE NAILS
WARNING OF
Malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, abnormal calcium levels or simply bad hygiene.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Re-check your iron and vitamin levels. You may
    have to increase your intake of iron, calcium and multivitamins (have more milk and greens). You could also have contracted a mild fungal infection. However, press the panic button only if more than 50 per cent of your nails
    are brittle.
BULGING EYES WARNING OF
Hyper-thyroidism. You may also be suffering from sleep apnea or a chronic respiratory disorder.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Not much on your
    own, unfortunately. Consult a specialist for thyroidrelated problems or a sleep specialist to correct your sleeping habits.
DRY LIPS WARNING OF
Inadequate moisture and dehydration. Your lips may crack also because of sitting in your air-conditioned office cubicle for long hours. But most importantly, dry lips are an alarm bell for those who overdose on antibiotics.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Cut down on those antibiotics, go natural for a change. Make it a habit
    of drinking the recommended six glasses of water every day. It hasn't harmed anyone yet. And if your job demands you to sit in an air-conditioned environment for prolonged hours, do your best to avoid the blast coming exactly towards your face. Not to forget, apply moisturiser regularly.
SWOLLEN FEET
    WARNING OF
The protein levels in your system have crashed, or are about to crash. Swelling in feet and ankles may also be due to obesity. Lastly, if you sit in one position for long hours, the swelling may settle in or increase.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If both your feet have swollen (bilateral swelling), you might have had a lucky escape, for it only indicates a general disorder as stated above. However, if it's only on one leg, do not ignore this symptom. Rush to a pathologist and get a blood test done ASAP to rule out a kidney/liver/heart/lung disorder. Lastly, if you spot varicose (swollen) veins, do not delay in consulting a doctor.
DRY HAIR /
EXCESSIVE HAIRFALL
WARNING OF
It is safe to blame all hair-related problems to malnutrition, directly or indirectly. Also, if you've been having only selected (read 'tasty') calciums, vitamins and minerals, your hair is likely to be dry. Lastly, do not rule out local infections such as dermatitis and dandruff.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
While you go out and buy that fancy shampoo which
promises hair as
smooth as Priyanka Chopra's, take some time out and improve your nutrition levels. Have a balanced diet if you really care for your hair. If the problem still persists, see a trichologist.
BLEEDING GUMS WARNING OF
Vitamin C deficiency is the culprit for bleeding gums. If undetected, it can lead to chronic gum infections.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Binge on citrus fruits such as oranges. Often overlooked in this category are potatoes, which, w h e n not cooked for long, supply sufficient amounts of Vitamin C. Also, check your brushing habit. If you've been brushing haphazardly and if your toothbrush is of the hard or semihard variety, it can cause serious damage to your gums.
DISCOLOURED
    STOOL
    WARNING OF
An imbalanced diet. You're probably overdoing on spinach and beetroot, to produce a dark stool. If this isn't the case, then occult (hidden)
    bleeding in the upper part of the gastric system (which can occur due to many reasons), can produce a tarry colour.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Go easy on the greens for a while. If it doesn't help, go for a stool examination to rule out blood-related diseases and then take appropriate measures.
(Dr Hemant Thacker is an honorary physician at Jaslok, Breach Candy and Bhatia hospitals)
    —AS TOLD TO MALAY DESAI