What Hiccups, Ringing Ears, Popping Joints And A Whistling Nose Mean For Your Health

Our body often knows to embarrass us in the moments when we least expect it. The stomach starts creating weird noises, our nose starts whistling and our ears start ringing when we’re in public and it makes us feel uncomfortable. 

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However, even though we often dismiss these things as nothing serious, our body could be sending us signals that there’s something wrong on the inside. That’s why we need to be on the lookout and monitor everything our body is trying to tell us.

The sounds our body creates for no apparent reason can be of great help because it’s the only way our body can communicate with us. In the majority of cases bodily sounds are not a cause for concern but if they tend to happen quite often maybe you need to see a doctor and check if there’s something wrong with you.

Here’s what your body is trying to tell you if you’re experiencing the following sounds:

Ringing ears

Loud music can sometimes make you feel faint ringing in your ears for hours after the music has stopped, which is not something you should worry about. On the other hand, if this happens often it may be a sign of tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be caused by ear damage, infection or it can be a normal side-effect of aging. When we have normal hearing, our ears send signals to our brain as soon as sound reaches them, but if there’s damage to our ear due to the tinnitus the ears continue sending signals to the brain and we hear that ringing sound all the time.

If aside from the ringing you experience vertigo and pain you should see your doctor because it may be a sign of a neurological disorder.

Popping joints

If your parents have constantly warned you that popping your knuckles can cause arthritis, you can be assured that this is just a myth.

Our joints are lubricated by the fluid inside but you can still hear a popping sound after a sudden movement. This is all harmless unless you feel pain, discomfort, reduced mobility or stiffness alongside the sound. It may be a result of an injury or ruptured ligament. If the popping start to sound like a grinding it may be an early symptom of osteoarthritis.

Whistling nose

Whistling nose is probably a sign of accumulated mucus blocking your airways. But, sometimes it can be a sign of a tear in the cartilage or a result of some nose trauma. If this is the case you’ll need to see a doctor and maybe even schedule a surgery to fix the injury.

Hiccups

Hiccups are a pretty common thing that we often experience. There are a number of folk remedies or methods which can stop hiccups, like drinking water, holding your breath, ACV and sugar on a teaspoon and so on and so forth. But have you ever stopped to wonder what’s causing them in the first place?

Any interruption while we’re breathing in can cause a diaphragm spasm and lead to hiccups. The vagus and phrenic diaphragm may control the diaphragm, and are triggered by medications, excitement, or the stomach after a meal.

Hiccups can stop if you hold your breath for a few minutes because the larger amounts of carbon dioxide in the lungs can relax the diaphragm and help her recover from the spasm.

On the other hand, if you’ve had hiccups continuously for more than 48 hours you should consult with your doctor because it’s not normal. It can be a symptom of nerve irritation, or even a warning sign of a stroke. If you’ve had hiccups for a longer period, moreover if they’re accompanied with pain or difficulties breathing you should definitely see a doctor.