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.
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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 really bad ingrowing hairs on my legs i have tried scrubs etc also a lotion which cost a fortune any advice pls its really getting me down!!!!!!
hey,
in my vaginal area it is very sore. there are tiny slits at each side of the lips. and is sometimes itchy.
i dont know what it is, or if its serious :/
i have tried putting sudocrem on it, to reduce it, sometimes it works and recuces the pain.
its not a huge problem, just concerned.
I have had this problem for a few months now, any help?
Hello,
I am 19 years old and at university, i recently had sex with a guy drunk and didn't use contraception. Well over the last couple of weeks i have noticed this really thick discharge in my pants on a daily basis and have a really itchy and irritable vagina. When i went to my doctor he said there was nothing to worry about, but i've never had this before. Please help me to diagnose what this might be :) thanks
hi im a girl and i have hair on my tummy and marks from my chickenpox on my back wat can i do ?
Lol Beth. I was barefoot and trodden on by a horse – as a teen. My feet have done a bit of growing after that, too, right up to a size 43.
I have a loud click in my big toe first joint when I flex it, and have arthritis in my middle toe 2nd joint, thanks to Rajah the large bay lump. I'm in my early 40's so it's downhill from here with regards developing arthritis, I suppose.
Mind you, I've had a cervical fusion done after falling off – yes, you've guessed it = Rajah the bay flat-footed lump. And a very revised ankle from falling off a motorbike. You just look like the life you lead, really.
I guess your foot might need some attention, perhaps an x-ray to see what's going on. Damaged joints sometimes build themselves up with bone – that's what happened in my neck – and rarely just stay the same.
Good luck!
I have loose wrinkly skin on my tummy that is unsightly following giving birth & weightloss. Is there any non surgical way that can deal with this eg laser treatment?
yeah hi
i have this its really bugging me and makes me feel, a bit funny, just were my hips are before my thighs, i have really tight sking and it makes like this weird shap like, my hips are out then this i s pulling a bit in then my thighs are bulgin out again and i looks really wierd, i think it may of been a few years ago, i had some trousers and the elasticy bit was really tight around my waist and used to make it and be sore, and has stayed i wounder if you could tell me why and possibly, help me on how to fix it ,,thanks
i have discharge in my knickers everyday which smells bad sometimes fishy i tend to get it when i wear cotton underwear with polyester pants and i can smell it around me after wearing my clothes for half an hour i was diagnosed with chlymidia a few months back and took my antibiootics as i should and didnt vomit afterwards so im in the clear with that now but even my partner has pointed it out a few times but i am clean when it comes to bathing i wash every other day and make sure i clean properly iv been told it may be bacterial vaginosis but i dont have the time to go and see a doctor i cannot take time off from work to go and when i finish work its closed can you help me please
I am 16 years old, and a 32FF and 5 foot. I feel my breasts are too big for my body, and often give me back pain. I was considering breast reduction surgery, and after seeing the last episode of the show (29 April) I am now more keen to get the surgery. I was told I'd have scars for life, but the scars on the girl who had the surgery didn't seem that bad. I was relieved to see them so subtle. I have discussed breast reduction with my family, but they feel that becase my breats are still growing, it wouldn't be a good choice.
I have eating disorders but no one knows about this, just me, Im binging one day and for 4+ days I don't eat then I binge for another day, and so on.
It's been going on for 2 years, help!
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