The "Your Mouth May Speak More Than Words" Story

It was an ordinary day. Was telling Carol and our friends, Jerry and Just Sue, who were visiting from State College, about being able to sniff our sickness. Certain sicknesses and diseases cause your breath to give off unusual odors. If you know what the different smells mean, you may be able to diagnose a sickness or disease and seek treatment before it it too late. Now bad breath or halitosis, which is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth, is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about kidney, liver, intestine and even pulmonary diseases. Certain medicines and drugs may also cause bad breath. Well, I'm telling them that bad breath may help to determine an illness and I look at them and they are all holding their cupped hands up to their mouth, breathing hard into them, and trying to smell their breath. Pretty funny sight, especially for Jerry who can't smell a lick anyway. OK, they wanted me to give them some examples. A fruity odor to the breath occurs as the body attempts to get rid of excess acetone through the breathing. This is a sign of ketoacidosis, which may occur in diabetes. It is a potentially life-threatening condition. Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. If your breath has an ammonia-like odor (also described as urine-like or "fishy") you may have a kidney disorder or it may be related to lung cancer. If a pregnant woman's breath smells like lighter fluid, she may have Preclampsia. If your breath smells like ether (any idea what that smells like?) you may be schizophrenic. All these smells created by our breath occur when sickness or disease alters cell metabolism. If you happen to notice any unusual odors it's best to call your doctor who will certainly recommend a throat culture. Oh, by the way, If your urine smells like cheese or a locker room you probably have a urinary tract infection and if your skin smells like gasoline you may want to head to the dermatologist to be checked for melanoma. Life's not easy is it? And getting old isn't what it's cracked up to be. But, I guess we don't have any other options. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.