Beware What You Wear
It may be catwalk envy that has you hoisting up the droopy bits and strapping back the flab, or you may just want to show off last year’s skinny-fits one more time. But if gaffer tape, tweezers and twine are part of your morning preening ritual, stop to think about what trussing yourself up like a plucked bird ripe for roasting is doing to your body. There could be plenty more embarrassing things than a stray bit of flab lurking round the corner if you keep it up – and a lot more foul-smelling.
Burning Loins
Love it when your loins burn after a night on the tiles? Those skin-tight trousers might catch you more than a lusty bedfellow. You may have heard of cystitis, an irritating bladder infection caused by intestinal bacteria. If you’ve been unlucky enough to suffer from it, the very word might remind you of that unstoppable urge to wee, and the nasty burning sensation when you do. Tight jeans and panties can be one step towards picking it up, especially synthetic ones that build up entirely the wrong kind of heat around the crotch.
However, it could be a lot more long-term than a couple of days squealing on the loo, whilst gulping down a carton of cranberry juice. Super-tight clothing can force the cells lining the womb back towards the ovaries, causing crippling pain and even infertility in a condition known as endometriosis, which affects some 2 million women in the UK alone.
Volatile Gases
Working upwards, take that high-fashion belt down a notch to avoid trapping all manner of volatile gases and bubbling potions where they shouldn’t be – a condition known as acid reflux results when stomach contents are forced upwards, leading to painful heartburn, while at the other end a stifling build-up of bowel gases that your body would normally release as nature intended, but will instead double you up with cramps and have you hobbling like a granny.
Everyone knows that if you squeeze a ball of putty tightly in your hand, it’ll bulge out somewhere else. But comic as it sounds there are much more serious consequences for those sporting waistband muffin-tops. Meralgia paresthetica is its much more fearsome-sounding technical name: too much pressure on your peripheral nerve, which leads from your thigh to your spinal column, can cause bee sting-like tingling across your thighs, groin or buttocks. Buy bigger trousers if you don’t want people assuming you have ant-infested pants.
Crown Jewels
Men: if you’re reading this and chuckling, don’t think you’re getting away so lightly. If fatherhood’s in the pipeline you may want to consider going commando: keeping the crown jewels locked away too tightly can dramatically reduce your chances by virtually shutting down the sperm-producing cells in your testicles. There’s a reason why they’re dangling down below – you need to keep them cool.
Back to the ladies: you’ve loosened your belt and been a bit more honest about your jeans size. You no-doubt know that tight bras can lead to pain in the neck, arms and shoulders, especially if you’re somewhat heavier in the bust. But did you know that they can also damage the nerves to your hands and fingers, causing tingling and numbness that will have you twitching and fidgeting like a thing possessed?
Contorting your tootsies
Sore soles after a night on the dance-floor might seem an evil worth paying for jazzing up those party feet – and you might think injuring your pride doing a Naomi Campbell is the worst you should fear when tottering towards town. But sharpening those toes to a point in over-tight shoes can cause everything from corns to spinal problems. And yes, even Victoria Beckham has bunions.
Contorting your tootsies into unnatural poses is one thing, but if you don’t keep them fresh and aired then trapped sweat can cause all manner of nasty fungal infections, from athlete’s foot to infected toenails. Unfortunately, flat shoes aren’t much better as they can also cause plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation known as policeman’s heel that gives an apt warning to Bobbies pounding the beat.
Even flip-flops and backless mules can crush your toes as you push forward on them, so maybe barefoot is best – but watch your step, as over 100,000 people injure themselves like that each year too.
So there you have it: next time you fish out the glad rags, besides fashion have a little think about infertility, farts and feet.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
i have very dry skin on my face, arms, legs and feet and it is very flaky most the time? no matter how much i wash and spray i sometimes have body odour? how do i get rid of this?
i have alot of discharge in my underwear at the end of the day,
i am embaraced about it and i want to know what it is? could you help ? plz ?
MY stupid horse trod on my toe in august last year, i still cant bend it and i have no feeling in it as its always numb and tingly feeling; so i think there is nerve damage. I also have a bit of raised bone on the joint of the toe (at the bottom) which always rubs on my shoes and then feels bruised aswell as tingly. Is there anything i can do to help my stuipd toe as its annoying me now other than gettin rid of my horse :) thanks xxxx
I sweat loads 2
I went to my GP and he gave me this cooling gel stuff that you put on the patches were u sweat and it stops them from sweating that much
hope it helps
at school i always find that my feet smell…not too much but enough for me to notice! how can i stop this, its very embarrasing!
Driclor is a godsend for those who sweat too much. after trying every deodrant available i went to boots and saw it so thought id give it a try and . . . :D amazing! itches when u put it on which is really itirating but stick with it its worth it.
o n michum deodrant is also really good.
Hi i suffer from the same problem as you lot above . i hid it for years hoping it would go away but it didnt , i went to the doctors and he refered me to a hospital where i had botox injected in to my armpits . i was told there that mine is one of the worse cases that the nurse had seen so thats quite scary. anyhow , my botox lasted about six months and it was fantastic the only thing is is that its not permanent so i went bk to docs but he said he cnt redo the botox as it has now been taken of the NHS so i would have to pay to go private which would cost me £300 and i dont realy fancy that . anyone got any suggestions on what to do \? no deodrants or powders work. thanks x
hey can anyone help, i have bone like nodules, it started on the top of my foot then the heel, i have one on my finger too
I have lots of little white spots all over my breasts . what are they ? And why will they not go away ?
Also I have a pain in my right side , about an inch away from my tummt button . People have said its my apendics and others say its a hernier . I'w gettin fed up and scared . What could it be ? And why will it not go away ? Please help .
hey so i used to sweat alot!! tried all the stuff in boots, dryclor the lot, ended up at docs and he gave me anhydro forte, put it on at night about once a week and not a drop of sweat! miracle cure really!!
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