4 body scents you should never ignore

Body odor is a natural thing that people can deal with at home, such as showering, which helps quickly get rid of the odor that arises as a result of excessive sweating.

But in some cases, body odor can indicate a health problem, especially if it persists or is distinct.

Dr. Jane Caudle, a family physician residing in the United States, explains in a video clip on her TikTok channel the smells that you should be careful of, which include:

Bad breath

Dr. Caudle cautions that if bad breath doesn't go away after brushing, it shouldn't be ignored.

She said: “We wonder if someone is suffering from poor oral hygiene, but the fact of the matter is that bad breath that doesn’t go away may actually be caused by other conditions, such as acid reflux, chronic sinus infections, or dry mouth, and lack of secretion. "Enough saliva, alcohol, certain medications, or other conditions."

It is recommended that you visit a doctor if you have bad breath that does not go away after cleaning.

Fish-like odor from the vagina

If you detect a fish-like odor coming from your vagina, "you shouldn't ignore it, because you may have bacterial vaginosis. That's an overgrowth of bad bacteria," Dr. Caudle explained.

Adding that bad bacteria can outcompete good bacteria and cause infections that need medical treatment.

Foul smelling urine

Foul-smelling urine can indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI). A urinary tract infection affects the urinary tract, including the bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis), or kidneys (kidney infection).

Some health experts describe the smell as similar to ammonia, and this may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or a burning sensation when urinating, or the need to urinate more than usual.

“This applies to both men and women,” Dr. Caudle said. “If your urine smells funny, get it checked.”

A foul-smelling wound

Dr. Caudle explains that if you have a sore or wound anywhere on your body and it smells bad, this may indicate the possibility of infection. This requires a visit to the doctor to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

Blood tests are commonly used to help diagnose health conditions and monitor a person's overall health from time to time.

Among the most requested tests is the comprehensive blood count (CBC), or complete blood cell count, which tells you which different cells are in your blood, how many there are, and whether they are abnormal or normal.

A complete blood count test can be used to look at overall health and find a wide range of conditions, including anemia, infections and leukemia.

The test measures white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit (percentage of red blood cell volume).

“For example, if you have anemia, you won't have as many red blood cells,” says Dr. Fiona Craig, a pathologist at the Mayo Clinic. “Or if you have an infection, you will have an increase in inflammatory cells, which is White blood cells in your blood.

Dr. Craig adds: “There are now ways to look for small amounts of cancer circulating in the blood. This requires a very specialized type of test that is completely different from a complete blood count.”

Although in a complete blood count test you can usually eat and drink, and take the test at any time of the day, in some cases patients may be asked to fast a few hours before blood samples are taken.

"We're looking for cells and molecules that are in the blood, for example glucose," Dr. Craig explains. "There are many molecules that are in our food, and we absorb them into our blood. So, if a blood test is to measure your basal level, for example "Glucose for diabetes, it is important to get tested before you eat something."

According to the Mayo Clinic, this common blood test is performed for several reasons:

- To look at general health: A complete blood count can be part of a medical examination to check general health and look for conditions, such as anemia or leukemia.

- To diagnose a mild or severe medical condition based on signs and symptoms: The test can help find the cause of symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and fever. It can also help find the cause of swelling, pain, bruising or bleeding.

- Follow up and treat the medical condition: A comprehensive blood count can help monitor conditions that affect the blood cell count, and to ensure medical treatment. The test may also be used to monitor treatment with medications that affect blood cell counts.