YOUR TONGUE
IS FURRIER
THAN DONALD
TRUMP’S TOUPEE
COULD BE:
If your tongue is furry and white, it could
mean you went too hard at the bar. If
symptoms persist after the hangover
eases, excessive stomach acid or yeast in
the mouth (candida) could be to blame.
Poor dental hygiene and dehydration can
also result in a white, furry tongue, which
can be resolved with mouthwash and
tongue brushing while cleaning your teeth.
YOU’VE LOST WEIGHT
WITHOUT TRYING
COULD BE:
If you haven’t changed your exercise habits
and aren’t dehydrated from training or an
illness such as gastroenteritis, weight loss
could be cause for concern. Depression,
anxiety, an overactive thyroid, or problems
with your immune system, kidneys or
pancreas can all cause weight loss. If you’ve
lost 10 per cent of your body weight and
have other symptoms such as a persistent
cough, bleeding from the bowel or a
stinging throat, cancer is something to
rule out.
“Cancers produce chemicals that can
interfere with your appetite, or the cancer
itself can be in a position that causes pain,
depressing the appetite,” says Professor
Ian Olver, oncologist and CEO of Cancer
Council Australia.YOUR ELBOWS FEEL
LIKE AN EMERY BOARD
COULD BE:
Dry skin is common after winter, but if your
elbows are constantly shedding skin, it
could be psoriasis (see p. 104), which also
worsens in cold weather. Eczema is the
other obvious cause of dryness according
to Sydney Skin dermatologist Dr Li-
Chuen Wong.
Eczema usually needs a regular
lather of moisturising cream and topical
steroids when inflamed. Mild psoriasis
can be treated with topical steroids while
treatment-resistant psoriasis may require
light therapy and – in severe cases –
immunosuppressant pharmaceuticals. Dry
skin can also signify nutrient deficiencies,
so it may be worth asking the GP for a set
of bloods and correcting any shortfalls.
Otherwise no amount of topical cream will
have any real effect.YOU BLEED ON DAY 14
COULD BE: CHLAMYDIA
While many women’s periods arrive a
day or a few either side of their ETA, full-
on bleeding mid-cycle isn’t normal. It’s a
particular concern if it happens for more
than two cycles according to Prof Robson,vice president of the Royal Australian and
New Zealand College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists. It’s cause to be alert,
but not alarmed, he says, since random
bleeding can mean normal hormones have
momentarily made the surface of your
cervix more fragile, or that the Pill you
take has led to breakthrough bleeding.
“However, it is always important to rule
out infections such as chlamydia and
other sexually transmitted diseases and
cancer, particularly of the cervix,” Prof
Robson says.YOU LOOK FOUR
MONTHS PREGNANT
(BUT AREN’T)
COULD BE:
BAD GUT BACTERIA
Causes of bloating can include overdosing
on fibrous foods or pre-menstrual hormone
shifts, which relax the muscle in your
bowel, causing food to travel more slowly
and gas to build up. Gastrointestinal
irritation caused by food intolerances and
allergies, artificial sweeteners, caffeine
and carbonated drinks can also inflate the
stomach. Canberra-based gynaecologist
and obstetrician Professor Steve Robson
suggests taking a probiotic to balance gut
bacteria, which can also cause distension. If
it doesn’t ease with DIY, see your GP to rule
out bowel disease and ovarian tumours.YOUR FAVOURITE
SALTY SWEET
POPCORN MAKES YOU
CRY IN PAIN
COULD BE: AN STI
The most common painful sores in the
mouth are mouth ulcers, which can be a
manifestation of the herpes virus (cold
sores) or a common aphthous ulcer,
which is not considered serious. They can,
however, point to nutrient deficiencies
in vitamin B12 and folic acid and anti-
inflammatory medications. If sores persist
or if discomfort worsens, ask your doctor
to rule out thrush or an STI as well as
autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s. “If
it’s so bad that you can’t swallow, if there’s
a possibility it’s because of an STI, you haveYOU CAN’T DO UP
YOUR FAVOURITE
BRACELET
COULD BE: CAFFEINE
Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic
nervous system, which can cause
shakes. Paradoxically, if you’ve
sworn off the bean, shakes could
signal withdrawal. “It is common for
women to experience the shakes
as a symptom of intoxication or
withdrawal,” says Dr Rio, head of the
Royal Women’s Hospital GP liaison
unit. Severe anger and anxiety can also
cause trembling hands. A less common
catalyst is thyroid overactivity, which
often also elicits weight loss, diarrhoea
and heart palpitations. If you came
up empty for common causes, the
doc should rule out multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s or stroke.