What's Your Body Telling You?

When your car pings or whirrs, you look under the bonnet. Same thing applies to your body: Those funny little sounds and moves might seem random, but they’re your body’s way of saying, “Hey, a little help here, please!”

 

- Barbara Brody

TWITCHING EYELID

THE MESSAGE: Give me a break!

Everyone might think you’re winking at them, but you’re not. A twitchy eye is usually caused by stress or fatigue, explains Dr Shilpi Agarwal, a family physician in Washington DC, US. Get a little R&R, and chances are the twitch will disappear. It might also be a sign of eye strain, which can happen when you spend a lot of time in front of a screen (a computer, laptop— even a smartphone). So be sure to look away every 20 minutes. A warm compress can also help; the heat relaxes muscles around the eye. One thing not to do: Fuel up with an extra cup of coffee. Caffeine can stimulate nerve impulses in your eye that can lead to spasms.

CRAMPING MUSCLES

THE MESSAGE: More water, please.

What you’ve got is a sudden tightening of the muscles, and dehydration is a big cause, says Dr Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, instructor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, US. Not getting enough electrolytes (magnesium, potassium and calcium) can also cause problems because your muscles need these to contract the right way. Sweating causes you to lose electrolytes—so an imbalance and dehydration often go hand-in-hand. Prevent the pain by drinking lots of water— especially after you exercise. One side note: Some asthma and blood pressure medicines can cause potassium levels to dip.

SNORING LIKE A BUZZ SAW