Weird Symptoms Explained

Odd cracking. Freaky twitching. Bizarre ringing. Our bodies sometimes conjure up strange symptoms. But, are they cause for concern? Didi Gluck, Beauty and Health Director of "Real Simple" stopped by to tell us what they mean and when to see a doctor.

They included:
SYMPTOM: You hear ringing in your ears
It’s probably tinnitus, a perceived buzzing or whooshing sound commonly caused by partial hearing loss. Medications, including aspirin and some antibiotics; allergies; and earwax buildup can be to blame.
The Fix: There’s no cure for tinnitus caused by hearing loss, but stress-reduction techniques, such as biofeedback, may help decrease your brain’s perception of the sound.
See A Doc: If the ringing is only in one ear or is accompanied by vertigo, balance problems, or facial weakness. These symptoms could indicate an acoustic-nerve tumor.

SYMPTOM: You have floaters in your eyes
Those little white specks that drift across your field of vision are probably just tiny pieces of tissue that stray into the vitreous, which is the jelly-filled chamber of each eye.
The Fix: Your eye will probably reabsorb them, or you’ll just stop noticing them.
See A Doc: If the floaters are black or are accompanied by flashing lights, which can signal a retinal tear.

SYMPTOM: Your jaw cracks
The jaw joint that’s in front of your ear is most likely to blame. It cracks when the joint isn’t moving correctly or fitting back into the socket properly.
The Fix: It should self-correct
See A Doc: If it’s accompanied by pain, headaches, or locking of the jaw. These symptoms could point to a joint disorder, arthritis, or some other kind of joint damage that requires treatment (such as wearing a mouth guard at night).

SYMPTOM: You get foot cramps at night
A subtle electrolyte imbalance (involving potassium, magnesium, or calcium) or mild dehydration may be triggering these cramps.
The Fix: Get up and walk around, then massage the muscle to help it relax.
See A Doc: If you get them nightly or during the day when you walk. You could have a blood-clotting disorder or nerve damage.

SYMPTOM: Your eyelid starts to spasm
Stress, fatigue, or over-caffeination is probably at the root of the problem here, causing the muscle in your upper or lower eyelid to contract rhythmically.
The Fix: Close your eyes and take a few deep, relaxing breaths.
See A Doc: If spasms occur regularly or are accompanied by pain.

SYMPTOM: Your body jerks as you fall asleep
These hypnic jerks, or sleep starts, probably stem from nerves misfiring as your brain and body downshift into sleep mode. As you fall asleep, your brain signals the body to relax. If the signal is interrupted, it can cause the limbs and head to jerk.
The Fix: There’s nothing you can do to prevent these harmless jerks. Fortunately, they last only a few seconds.
See A Doc: If they happen frequently or disturb your sleep, as they might be a sign of sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder.