Buzz
Our bodies are home to both allies and enemies in places we can't see. Unseen things are silently nibbling away at us, and that random itch... could be more than just an ordinary itch.
Brace yourself for ten unsettling facts that will make you feel a little more paranoid about your body!
10. Tiny Companions
Ever notice that annoying eye twitch that pops up from time to time? This tiny muscle spasm is more common in people who share their lashes with the surprisingly widespread eyelash mite.
Around half of the global population hosts these tiny critters in their eyelashes. If you pull out a few and examine them under a microscope, you’ll meet Mr. Mite: just about a third of a millimeter long, feeding on your skin cells and oils. Aside from causing itchy eyes, the common eyelash mite doesn’t do much harm. To get rid of them, people resort to questionable remedies like tea tree oil—if you’re willing to risk banishing the mites along with your perfectly healthy eyeball.
By the way, Mr. Mite also leaves a fair amount of waste around your eyelids. Does tea tree oil sound more appealing now?
9. Your Face Is a Danger Zone
The blood vessels in your face are closely connected to those at the base of your brain. This means that the facial vessels can carry blood directly to your brain’s vessels, and infections in the T-zone of your face can easily send harmful substances straight to your brain.
So if you get a thrill from popping spots in the T-zone on your face, or enjoy picking at your nose and causing an infection, you might end up putting your life at risk. Damaging the skin in the Triangle of Death on your face increases the chances of a dangerous infection.
8. The Inner Ear Assault
If your ear starts ringing or you notice small lapses in your hearing, it might be time to listen to your favorite Stevie Wonder tracks. You could soon find yourself joining the group of people with impaired hearing. AIED is a condition where your body’s immune system begins attacking your ear—and it can be tricky to treat, especially if it goes unnoticed for too long. The onset of AIED is hard to pinpoint, and often, by the time treatment begins, hearing damage has already occurred.
7. Flesh-Eating Bacteria
More and more people are falling victim to Necrotizing Fasciitis, or NF. This nasty condition primarily affects those with weakened immune systems, such as individuals dealing with stress or conditions like diabetes.
But don’t think you’re safe just because you lead a relatively healthy and happy lifestyle; smokers and drinkers are also at risk. A wide variety of bacteria can trigger this flesh- and tissue-destroying disease, and NF is on the rise. About seventy percent of those with NF—whether diagnosed or not—might not survive it.
6. Exploding Eyes
Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy often goes undetected until it's too late. Only one percent of people are affected by this eye condition, but the most unfortunate ones might face a dramatic eyeball explosion. What happens? The gel inside the eye starts to fill the cornea, pressure builds, and pop!
If this happens to you, blame your parents; at least one of them passed the gene onto you.
5. You Might Turn into a “Tree”
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections; its effects can include genital warts, which, if ignored, may cause your skin to start resembling the bark of a tree. Tests don’t always reveal whether you're infected, nor which strand of HPV you may have.
4. Rebellious Stomach Bacteria
After you pass away, your stomach remains a lively place: the bacteria within it can outlive you. They’re responsible for post-mortem farts and intestinal decay, feeding on lactic acids and other remnants inside your gut. If you had a hearty meat meal before dying, they’ll hang around even longer—seemingly determined to make your body bloat and stink as much as possible.
3. Death By Sleep
As if struggling with the dreaded Sleep Paralysis wasn’t enough (where you're unable to move and feel like a demon is sitting on your chest), you could also end up meeting your demise due to this condition! Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS) can occur in individuals who suffer a myocardial infarction. This would usually be intensely painful and would definitely wake you up—but if your cardiac muscles and diaphragm are paralyzed, you’re doomed. So much for peacefully passing away in your sleep!
2. Your Body Yearns for Its Worms
Humans have long carried worms within their bodies, and one theory suggests that autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s are the result of the body gearing up to fight off worms that are no longer part of our species. Hookworms are currently being tested in trials to treat various immune diseases, to see if the body will focus its attack on the worms instead of its organs.
1. Your Belly Button is a Rainforest
Scientists have recently found that your tiny belly button may house a bio-diverse bacterial ecosystem similar to what’s found in a rainforest. The Micrococcus species, in particular, thrives on the surface of your navel, where it clings to your skin and feeds on oxygen.
The average belly button is home to about sixty-five different types of bacteria. While a moist, warm, and unclean belly button might be the ideal place for bacteria to thrive, they can also travel to other parts of your body, like the perilous Triangle of Death or even your nasal passages.
