Learn the common causes behind your body's little quirks
Whether uncomfortable, embarrassing or just plain weird, there are some pretty funky things that our bodies do. Curious about the causes of such reactions as hiccups, goose bumps and eye twitches, we spoke with Eric Plasker, DC, author of The 100 Year Lifestyle, to get the real scoop. Read on to discover the common reasons for 14 peculiar bodily functions.
Yawns
If your body is low on oxygen, your mouth opens wide and tries to suck more in. Yawning is a way to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. Unfortunately, yawns are nearly impossible to stifle.
Eye Twitches
Serious eye twitches can be a symptom of neurological disorders, but often there is a more mundane explanation. Common causes for eye twitches include stress, lack of sleep, extended staring or eye strain. Before you get frantic, try reducing your stress level, cutting back on caffeine and catching up on sleep.
Itches
According to Dr. Plasker, our skin most often gets itchy because of dryness associated with the environment or over-washing—water and soap can strip skin of its natural oils, thus sapping moisture. Face or body lotion should be able to keep these types of itches under control; also look for body washes and soaps labeled “moisturizing.†If you still have itchy patches, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to a chemical, plant, food, animal or drug. See an allergist if the itching is persistent.
Hiccups
If you’ve frequently got a case of the hiccups, try slowing down when you eat and drink, suggests Dr. Plasker. Doing either too quickly causes your stomach to swell; this irritates your diaphragm, which contracts and causes hiccups. You may also get hiccups in emotional situations or if your body experiences a sudden temperature change. In both of these cases, the hiccups are a result of a glitch in your nerve pathways, which is why a sudden scare—which might shake up and reset your nerves—can sometimes end an episode.
Goose Bumps
Those tiny bumps that cover your skin when you’re cold or scared are actually a defense mechanism. Goose bumps occur when the arrector pili, a tiny muscle that connects the hair follicle with skin, contracts and makes the hair stand on end. If you had more hair—like cavemen did—the upright hair would trap air to keep you warm or make you look bushier and therefore more threatening to predators.
Sneezes
Sneezes happen when your body is trying to expel an irritant from the nasal cavity. If you have allergies, pollen or pet dander is usually to blame. If you have a cold, your body makes mucus to trap the virus, and sneezing helps force it (and the sickness) out of your body. An over-the-counter allergy or cold medicine helps suppress your reaction to allergens or reduce mucus production, which should prevent sneezing fits.
Coughs
A cough is another mechanism your body uses to get rid of irritants. There are special cells along your air passage, says Dr. Plasker, that recognize irritants and force them out. Common colds, sinus infections and pneumonia all increase your body’s mucus production, which triggers coughing. Smoking and asthma also tend to irritate the cells. To help cut down on chronic coughing, exercise regularly and practice good posture to keep your air passage open.
Charley Horses
These sudden, super-painful muscle spasms can be blamed on several things, including dehydration or electrolyte imbalances—often from strenuous exercise. After a demanding workout or an extra-long run, sip a sports drink to keep your system running smoothly. If you experience this type of cramping, walk around to help relieve the pain.
Shivers
Shivering, says Dr. Plasker, is full-body muscle twitching. When your temperature drops too low, your body shakes all over in an attempt to generate heat. The only way to cure these kind of shivers is to get your temperature back to 98.6°F.
Ear Ringing
Ear ringing, or tinnitus, can happen for two reasons. If you have fluid or an infection in your middle ear, you may hear a constant buzz. However, the more common cause is damage to the microscopic ends of your hearing nerves, which often happens when you’re exposed to loud noises. To prevent permanent damage (and preserve your hearing), wear earplugs at concerts and sporting events—or even when you mow the lawn.
Stomach Rumbles
As food, liquid and gas move through your digestive tract, your stomach muscles and intestines contract and cause rumbling noises—borborygmi is the scientific name. Everyone’s stomach makes noise during digestion, but if you have extra-loud rumbles, a teaspoon of olive oil or a cup of herbal tea with lemon may help ease them, says Dr. Plasker.
Limbs Falling Asleep
When there’s consistent pressure on part of a limb—like when you sit on your feet or rest your head on an arm—the pressure squeezes your nerve pathways and scrambles messages sent to your brain. The mixed messages make you lose feeling in the squished body part because your brain has trouble telling it what to do. To prevent a case of pins and needles, avoid sitting or lying in positions that compress your nerves.
Seeing Stars
If you stand too quickly, suffer a blow to the head or are stricken by a migraine, there’s a good chance you’ll see stars as blood surges to different parts of your body. Generally these tiny flashes of light will fade in a few seconds. If you see stars for more than a few moments, you could have a tear or tiny clot in your retina, and you should consult a physician immediately.
Ear Popping
The Eustachian tube in your inner ear is responsible for maintaining equal pressure on both sides of your eardrum. When you experience a rapid change in altitude—during takeoff in an airplane or when riding an elevator in an extra-tall building—the Eustachian tube opens to release pressure, and you hear a pop. To force the tube open (and “pop†your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed while exhaling forcefully through your nose.
5:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":[[["$","link","css:/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css",{"rel":"stylesheet","precedence":"vite-rsc/importer-resources","href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css","data-rsc-css-href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css"}],"$undefined"],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center items-center p-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"animate-spin rounded-full h-8 w-8 border-b-2 border-indigo-600"}]}]],"children":["$","div",null,{"className":"bg-white/95 mt-0.5 py-6 sm:py-12","children":["$","article",null,{"className":"mx-auto w-full max-w-2xl format format-sm sm:format-base lg:format-lg format-blue dark:format-invert","children":[["$","header",null,{"className":"mb-4 lg:mb-6 not-format","children":[["$","h1",null,{"className":"mb-4 text-3xl font-extrabold leading-tight text-gray-900 lg:mb-6 lg:text-4xl dark:text-white","children":"Know About Your Body"}],["$","address",null,{"className":"flex items-center mb-6 not-italic","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center text-sm text-gray-900 dark:text-white","children":[["$","img",null,{"className":"mr-3 w-8 h-8 rounded-full","src":"$7","alt":"Shilpa"}],["$","a",null,{"href":"/author/shilpa_73326366032278","rel":"author","className":"font-bold capitalize hover:underline dark:text-white","children":"Shilpa"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center ml-1 text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"6 min read"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"Fri Jun 26 2009","className":"text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"Jun 26, 2009"}],[["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","a","health-and-beauty",{"href":"/t/health-and-beauty","className":"capitalize text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600","children":"health & beauty"}]]]}]}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"lead prose mt-4 text-lg leading-8 text-gray-600","children":["$","div",null,{"dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$8"}}]}],"$L9","$La"]}]}]}] b:T63b,M12.315 2c2.43 0 2.784.013 3.808.06 1.064.049 1.791.218 2.427.465a4.902 4.902 0 011.772 1.153 4.902 4.902 0 011.153 1.772c.247.636.416 1.363.465 2.427.048 1.067.06 1.407.06 4.123v.08c0 2.643-.012 2.987-.06 4.043-.049 1.064-.218 1.791-.465 2.427a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153 1.772 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772 1.153c-.636.247-1.363.416-2.427.465-1.067.048-1.407.06-4.123.06h-.08c-2.643 0-2.987-.012-4.043-.06-1.064-.049-1.791-.218-2.427-.465a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772-1.153 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153-1.772c-.247-.636-.416-1.363-.465-2.427-.047-1.024-.06-1.379-.06-3.808v-.63c0-2.43.013-2.784.06-3.808.049-1.064.218-1.791.465-2.427a4.902 4.902 0 011.153-1.772A4.902 4.902 0 015.45 2.525c.636-.247 1.363-.416 2.427-.465C8.901 2.013 9.256 2 11.685 2h.63zm-.081 1.802h-.468c-2.456 0-2.784.011-3.807.058-.975.045-1.504.207-1.857.344-.467.182-.8.398-1.15.748-.35.35-.566.683-.748 1.15-.137.353-.3.882-.344 1.857-.047 1.023-.058 1.351-.058 3.807v.468c0 2.456.011 2.784.058 3.807.045.975.207 1.504.344 1.857.182.466.399.8.748 1.15.35.35.683.566 1.15.748.353.137.882.3 1.857.344 1.054.048 1.37.058 4.041.058h.08c2.597 0 2.917-.01 3.96-.058.976-.045 1.505-.207 1.858-.344.466-.182.8-.398 1.15-.748.35-.35.566-.683.748-1.15.137-.353.3-.882.344-1.857.048-1.055.058-1.37.058-4.041v-.08c0-2.597-.01-2.917-.058-3.96-.045-.976-.207-1.505-.344-1.858a3.097 3.097 0 00-.748-1.15 3.098 3.098 0 00-1.15-.748c-.353-.137-.882-.3-1.857-.344-1.023-.047-1.351-.058-3.807-.058zM12 6.865a5.135 5.135 0 110 10.27 5.135 5.135 0 010-10.27zm0 1.802a3.333 3.333 0 100 6.666 3.333 3.333 0 000-6.666zm5.338-3.205a1.2 1.2 0 110 2.4 1.2 1.2 0 010-2.4z6:["$","footer",null,{"className":"bg-gray-900 dark:bg-gray-900","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 py-4.5 md:flex md:items-center md:justify-between lg:px-8","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center space-x-6 md:order-2","children":[["$","a","Facebook",{"href":"https://facebook.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Facebook"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M22 12c0-5.523-4.477-10-10-10S2 6.477 2 12c0 4.991 3.657 9.128 8.438 9.878v-6.987h-2.54V12h2.54V9.797c0-2.506 1.492-3.89 3.777-3.89 1.094 0 2.238.195 2.238.195v2.46h-1.26c-1.243 0-1.63.771-1.63 1.562V12h2.773l-.443 2.89h-2.33v6.988C18.343 21.128 22 16.991 22 12z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","Instagram",{"href":"https://instagram.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Instagram"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"$b","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","X",{"href":"https://x.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"X"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M13.6823 10.6218L20.2391 3H18.6854L12.9921 9.61788L8.44486 3H3.2002L10.0765 13.0074L3.2002 21H4.75404L10.7663 14.0113L15.5685 21H20.8131L13.6819 10.6218H13.6823ZM11.5541 13.0956L10.8574 12.0991L5.31391 4.16971H7.70053L12.1742 10.5689L12.8709 11.5655L18.6861 19.8835H16.2995L11.5541 13.096V13.0956Z"}]}]]}],"$Lc"]}],"$Ld"]}]}] 9:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap gap-2","children":[["$","a","75411941818774",{"href":"/t/skin","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"skin"}]]}]}] a:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":["$","div",null,{"className":"comments-skeleton","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"h-6 bg-gray-200 rounded w-32 mb-4 animate-pulse"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"space-y-3","children":[["$","div","1",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","2",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","3",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}]]}]]}],"children":"$Le"}] c:["$","a","GitHub",{"href":"https://github.com/gleez","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"GitHub"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M12 2C6.477 2 2 6.484 2 12.017c0 4.425 2.865 8.18 6.839 9.504.5.092.682-.217.682-.483 0-.237-.008-.868-.013-1.703-2.782.605-3.369-1.343-3.369-1.343-.454-1.158-1.11-1.466-1.11-1.466-.908-.62.069-.608.069-.608 1.003.07 1.531 1.032 1.531 1.032.892 1.53 2.341 1.088 2.91.832.092-.647.35-1.088.636-1.338-2.22-.253-4.555-1.113-4.555-4.951 0-1.093.39-1.988 1.029-2.688-.103-.253-.446-1.272.098-2.65 0 0 .84-.27 2.75 1.026A9.564 9.564 0 0112 6.844c.85.004 1.705.115 2.504.337 1.909-1.296 2.747-1.027 2.747-1.027.546 1.379.202 2.398.1 2.651.64.7 1.028 1.595 1.028 2.688 0 3.848-2.339 4.695-4.566 4.943.359.309.678.92.678 1.855 0 1.338-.012 2.419-.012 2.747 0 .268.18.58.688.482A10.019 10.019 0 0022 12.017C22 6.484 17.522 2 12 2z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}] d:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8 md:order-1 md:mt-0","children":["$","p",null,{"className":"text-sm leading-5 text-gray-400","children":["© 2005 - ",2026," Gleez Inc. All rights reserved."]}]}] e:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":[["$","h3",null,{"className":"text-xl font-semibold mb-4","children":"Voices"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"text-gray-500","children":"Be the first to add your voice to \"Know About Your Body\"!"}]]}]