Things Your Body Does That Made You Go ‘Wait, What?’
Our bodies are amazing machines, capable of incredible feats. But sometimes, they do things that leave us scratching our heads and wondering, “What was that about?” Here are some common, and not-so-common, body quirks that might have made you go ‘Wait, what?’
1. Why Do My Eyes Twitch?
That annoying eyelid twitch, also known as myokymia, is a common experience. It’s usually harmless and temporary. The cause? Stress, fatigue, caffeine, or even dry eyes can trigger these tiny muscle spasms. Usually it will go away on its own, if it doesn’t consider reducing some of the common causes.
2. The Goosebump Mystery
Goosebumps, or piloerection, are a vestige from our evolutionary past. When we’re cold or scared, tiny muscles at the base of each hair follicle contract, causing the hairs to stand on end. This would have made our ancestors appear larger and more intimidating, and also provided a layer of insulation by trapping air. Now a days it is really just your body reacting to the cold and can be a spooky sensation when you get them randomly.
3. Hiccups: The Uninvited Guest
Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle that helps us breathe. When the diaphragm spasms, the vocal cords suddenly close, producing the characteristic “hic” sound. There are many common wives tails on how to get rid of hiccups from holding your breath, to drinking water upside down, to having someone scare you. These usually are not life threatening by can be very annoying.
4. That ‘Falling’ Sensation When You’re Drifting Off
This strange sensation, called a hypnic jerk, often happens as you’re falling asleep. It’s a sudden, involuntary muscle twitch that can feel like you’re falling. One theory suggests it’s a misfiring of the brain as it transitions from wakefulness to sleep. Another theory states it may be your body’s ancestral reaction to falling asleep in a tree. Don’t worry, you’ll land safe and sound in your bed.
5. Why Do I Get Dizzy When I Stand Up Too Fast?
This is known as orthostatic hypotension, or postural hypotension. When you stand up quickly, gravity pulls blood down to your legs. Usually, your body compensates by increasing your heart rate and constricting blood vessels to maintain blood pressure. But sometimes, this mechanism doesn’t work fast enough, leading to a temporary drop in blood pressure and dizziness. A common way to resolve this is to ensure you are hydrated.
6. The Case of the Brain Freeze
Brain freeze, or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (try saying that five times fast!), is that sudden, sharp headache you get when you eat or drink something cold too quickly. The cold stimulus causes the blood vessels in the roof of your mouth to constrict and then rapidly dilate, which triggers pain receptors in the brain. It will pass in a few seconds and you will be able to go back to enjoying your cold treat.
7. Why Do My Limbs Fall Asleep?
That pins-and-needles sensation happens when you compress a nerve. This cuts off the nerve’s blood supply which results in no signal. Once the blood supply restores the nerve goes haywire and sends a flurry of signals. This is why it feels like pins and needles. Changing your position can help prevent and resolve the situation.
These are just a few of the many strange and wonderful things our bodies do. While some may be annoying or even a little alarming, most are perfectly normal and harmless. So, next time your body does something unexpected, take a moment to appreciate the incredible complexity and resilience of the human machine.