Doctors address embarrassing diseases people suffer from and give tips on how to deal with them.
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Bad breath, body odour, unwanted hair growth and 'moobs' are some of the few health problems many suffer from, but people usually don't get looked or like to talk about, because of the embarrassment that comes with them. The one deal-breaker for many is if their date has bad breath. Soft deposit (plaque) and hard deposits (calculus) are the two major causes of morning breath and gum problems, which result in bad breath.
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Dr Shivani Dadwal Salaria, MDS ( periodontics) and dental specialist, says, "Plaque begins to form immediately after brushing and so, needs to be removed from the surface of the tooth periodically. If this plaque remains on the tooth for three-four days, it begins to harden and forms calculus."
This dental calculus is impossible to remove by normal brushing and one may need professional help for it. Soft or hard deposits also harbour bacteria.
Dr Bhumika Madan, senior consultant, dentistry, Aakash Healthcare, adds, "The common cause of bad breath/halitosis is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria tend builds up on our teeth and on the tongue and gums. This bacteria also causes gum disease and tooth decay. There's also a condition called dry mouth (xerostomia), in which the flow and composition of saliva may be affected, causing bad breath."
Photo: Mail Today
Consuming strongly flavoured foods like garlic, onions and spices, drinking coffee and alcohol or smoking could also make your breath smell.
There also rare cases, wherein bad breath can be caused by medical conditions like respiratory tract infections, systemic diseases such as diabetes, kidney, liver and lung disease and gastrointestinal issues.
Brushing twice a day and after meals, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride helps in reducing bad breath.
Also Read: 10 ways to keep that stink away during summer
One should wait 30-45 minutes after you eat or drink, so that the acids in your mouth drop to normal levels before you brush your teeth.
A good antiplaque toothpaste will provide adequate protection against dental plaque. Limit using a mouthwash to two weeks, followed by a break for two weeks, as prolonged use of mouthwash leads to elimination of good bacteria as well. Massaging of gums should be included in your daily regimen of oral hygiene. Remember to floss once a day to clean tight spaces between your teeth.
And then there's body odour - an unpleasant smell produced when the bacteria on the skin break down the acids in your sweat. Dr Nitin S Walia, senior consultant, dermatology, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, says, "Apocrine sweat glands develop after puberty and they produce sweat that bacteria break down to produce body odour."
While body odour is usually associated with the armpits, bacteria can also produce odour in the groin, anus area, upper thighs, and feet.
Body odour has a strong genetic basis, but being overweight, certain medication like antidepressants, and medical conditions like diabetes (a fruity smell) or liver or kidney disease (a bleach-like smell) are some of the factors that add to this nuisance.
Excessive sweating, termed hyperhidrosis, can be managed by a dermatologist, though Dr Kanwarjeet Singh, senior consultant physician and cardio diabetologist, Amandeep Hospitals, says that maintaining good hygiene, especially of the neck, armpits, private parts and feet, and using anti-bacterial soaps, are some of the measures people can take.
Dry your body properly as that prevents the development of unwanted bacteria.
"Home remedies include applying lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, holy basil, or corn starch locally to control body odour. Drink turnip juice, which is rich in Vitamin C and hydrate yourself regularly," Dr Singh says.
Smelly feet, which result in smelly shoes and an unforgiving stench tailing you everywhere, is caused by poor personal hygiene and hormonal changes or high stress levels, which cause excessive sweating in the feet.
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Dr Kanwarjeet says, "Wearing the same shoes every day as sweat might seep deep in the shoes when you wear them, and if you wear them before the shoes are completely dry, the feet start to smell. Teenagers and pregnant women are more prone to it."
Dr Dhirty Vats, MPT, orthopedic, Healthians, adds, "A fungal growth in the feet, especially between the toes, can also lead to smelly feet."
Keeping your feet dry, not wearing shoes for long duration and wearing absorbent socks, using antiperspirant or deodorant on your feet, using detachable medical insole or inserts in the shoes, wearing breathable materials like leather or canvas, going for foot soaks and home remedies like baking soda, lavender oil, alum, black tea, boric powder and vinegar, are some ways in which you can prevent this problem.
Fungal growth in the feet can lead to foul smell. Photo: Mail Today
Dr Nitin says, "Try hydrogen peroxide solution to fight smelly feet. Add 1 teaspoon (5ml) of hydrogen peroxide (3 per cent) to 1 cup of water. Wipe this on your feet with a washcloth. This may help destroy the bacteria that create body odour."
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Another problem many women face is the growth of unwanted hair on the hands, feet, face and back affect the perfect look of a person.
Excessive hair on the face, chin, upper lip or breasts that appear on a woman's body is called hirsutism and is caused by hormonal imbalance, irregular menstrual cycle, and use of certain medications like PCOS or pregnancy.
Men can also experience hirsutism when their hair is excessive in areas, caused by hormonal changes.
Dr Dhirty explains, "When too much androgen, the male hormone responsible for hair growth, is produced by women, then they experience the unwanted growth." Dr Kanwarjeet adds, "It could also be heredity factors. Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Indian and African American people have a tendency to develop unnatural hair growth." Home remedies like applying masks made using raw papaya, turmeric, gram flour can reduce growth of unwanted hair."
Also Read: Move over bikini bodies, hip-dips is the latest body trend taking over social media
Techniques like waxing, laser hair removal, electrolysis, can remove unwanted hair. Laser technology is the most advanced process, which exposes the unwanted hair to laser that destroys the hair follicle.
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Gynecomastia, the enlargement of the male chest due to excessive growth of breast tissues inside the breast gland, is a major problem among men in the city, doctors say.
Dr Dhirty explains, "The mammary glands present in the body of a male enlarge due to elevated level of estrogen, the female hormone. It can also be confused with fat deposit in healthy males, where fat deposits in the mammary glands and they look enlarged."
Drug abuse, marijuana consumption, radiation and certain medication are some other causes. Though gynecomastia surgery is expensive, it's permanent and includes breast reduction and shaping the chest in the desirable manner.
Dr Kanwarjeet says, "Post cycle therapy or PCT uses pharmacological agents to prevent or reverse the excessive estrogen production caused by steroid use. This therapy is commonly employed in the fitness industry with the help of SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator), AI (Aromatise Inhibitor) and a testosterone booster."
Photo: Mail Today
ENSURING A STENCH-FREE LIFE
1. Limit the amount of spicy foods like curry, garlic or onions because they can make your sweat smell. Avoid refined sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils and other processed foods. Avoid red meat because it releases many toxins into the blood stream.
2. Foods that are rich in phytoestrogen can change hormonal levels.
3. Consumption of foods such as flaxseeds, alfalfa, brahmi herb, soy milk, fennel herb and licorice may help in restricting hair growth.
4. Avoid alcohol consumption or smoking cigarettes.
5. Take sips of water regularly.
6. A sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol helps fight bad breath. Xylitol kills the bacteria that cause cavities, and gum in general makes more saliva in your mouth, which helps to bring down acid levels.
7. Have a diet which contains whole grains, lots of leafy vegetables, sprouts, fresh fruits, soy products and raw nuts.
8. Floss and brush teeth twice a day - in the morning and after dinner.
Published By:
AtMigration
Sep 4, 2017
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