Body Manifestations

Dr. Sarfaraz K Niazi (e-mail: niazi@niazi.com)

Human body expresses itself through many means ranging from goosebumps to yawning to fainting. Medical reasons aside , many of these bodily sensations and expressions have acquired significant social meaning, mainly because of our lack of understanding of how these sensations appear. Here is a quick description of how our body shows its sensations.

Hiccups

The sudden reactions are caused by drinking too fast, nervousness , pregnancy and alcoholism.

What & How: An involuntary spasm of the muscle separating the abdomen and chest causes dry vocal cords to snap closed, which creates the hiccup. moist vocal cords do not make the hiccup sound. In pregnancy and alcoholism there may be long-term irritation of muscles and hiccups may last periodically for weeks.

Remedy: Drinking water to reverse the process; hiccups usually subside within five minutes.

Burps

Triggered by excessive gulping of air during eating or drinking.

What & How: Excess air accumulates in stomach while eating or drinking fast. Periodically \, the air is expelled out of the mouth to relieve pressure in the stomach. Although involuntary, some can burp at will.

Remedy: Eat and drink slowly. Do not chew with mouth open.

Laughter

Triggered by amusement, sometimes stress and embarrassment.

What & How: Nerves trigger electrical impulses in the brain, which set off chemical reactions, including release of natural tranquilizer, pain relievers and "pleasure chemicals". Laughter is a quick deep breath of air, followed by exhaling through short, spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm rumbles, it massages the abdomen heightening the pleasurable sensation. "Laughter The Best Medicine" is a long running column in the world's largest circulated magazine, Readers Digest. It indeed is.

Seeing Stars

Triggered by a hard blow to the head , anesthesia, fever, drunkenness, hyperventilation, holding breath.

Cause: Nerves that link visual receptors to the brain centre that processes visual information are agitated, often resulting in a perceived "flash" and a momentary feeling of weaving.

Blushing

Triggered by major embarrassment or lust.

What & How: Nerve impulses rush blood to the brain and cause dry mouth and an increase in body temperature. In response, blood vessels in the face, hands and feet widen, causing a sudden flush and cooling.

Remedy: Anticipated blushing can be averted by sucking a Popsicl or sipping a cold drink.

Goosebumps

Triggered by fear, cold or a thrill. Alcohol and caffeine predispose some people to goosebumps.

What & How: The cause for crying must be strong enough to overcome a physiological system that normally keeps us from crying. Sadness depletes the body's supply of a chemical called serotonin. In response, certain nerves, some of which are near the eyes, fire to stimulate production of serotonin. That nerve action creates pressure on the ducts and canals, which push tears into the eyes. Joyful tears flow from the combined effects of natural "pleasure chemicals" and facial contractions such as smiles or laughter. Tears themselves are really not pert of any expression. Evolutionary cycle developed tear glands to keep eyeballs moistened.

Yawning

Triggered by excess carbondioxide in the blood, seeing someone yawn.

What & How: Brain sensors detect an excess of "waste gas" in the blood and trigger a nerve response that cause mouth and throat muscles to spasm, allowing release of carbon dioxide and a large intake of oxygen rich air. The contagious yawn may have developed as a reflex to the sight of another human warning yawn. It is not certain how yawning is related to boredom but when activity level is reduced or voluntary movements restricted, intake of oxygen is reduced.

Butterflies

Triggered by stress, fear, anxiety.

What & How: Under "good" stress, the body releases varying amounts of adrenaline and its balancing agent, noradrenaline, which trigger a sudden increase in the strength and frequency of normal stomach contractions, creating a fluttery sensation. "Bad" stress exacerbates the sensation, creating more severe symptoms, such as knots in the stomach and ulcers.

Fainting

Triggered by low blood flow to the brain, usually from hyperventilation, overexertion, pregnancy, fear or lack of movement.

What & How: In hyperventilation, rapid shallow breathing releases too much carbon dioxide into the blood stream. To compensate, the brain's blood vessels narrow, which decreases blood flow to the heart and lungs and creates numbness in the face, fingers and toes. Fainting often follows. Extreme fear can cause fainting through the "fight or flight" response; blood rushes to internal organs and is rationed to the brain.

Remedy: Lie down or put head between knees to increase flow to the brain.

Funny Bone

Triggered by a bump to the ulnar nerve that runs through the groove just beside the elbow.

What & How: The blow overstimulates the nerve, causing numbness or " pins and needles" sensations in the pinkie and ring finger and the palm of the hand.

Remedy: When or how hard the funny bone is struck usually can not be controlled, but studies show that an upbeat attitude seems to help diminish pain, as the funny bone acts as a kind of mood barometer.

[9 February 1994]