HOUSTON – If you've ever heard chewing ice can mean you're lacking iron, it's true. There are also other, intense cravings that could indicate a metal deficiency in your body.
“There could be an overwhelming urge to have this craving, whatever it is, and so for instance if it's ice they might keep an ice cup at their desk all day long and chew ice all the time or if it's a secret, weird craving for like detergent or for like coffee grounds or something like that, a person might actually keep it near them and occasionally sniff it or weirdly even taste it,” said Dr. Robbyn Traylor from Next Level Urgent Care.
Traylor said that if you or someone you know has bizarre cravings, don't be shy to tell them to talk to a doctor.
In fact, chiming in for another weird health symptom: sweet smelling breath, could save lives.
“If suddenly your family member seems to be struggling with their breath and they're breathing heavier than they normally do and you notice a fruity smelling odor, like a sugar-free gum on their breath, that could be a sign that their blood sugar is really high and that their body is spiraling into some kind of metabolic catastrophe,” Traylor said.
She said sweet breath, heavy breathing or an abnormal thirst could indicate high blood pressure or diabetes. Without being diagnosed, that can lead to organ failure, an altered mental state or a heart attack.
Traylor said annual checkups can help find chronic illness early and prevent serious consequences from undiagnosed diseases.
The one thing she said your doctor will never, ever ignore is blood.
“Doctors will never ignore blood, OK?” Traylor said. “Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding could be a sign of some kind of cancer activity, blood in the urine could be a sign of some kind of cancer in the urinary tract or even just an inflammation at the kidneys.”
She warned that younger people are now being diagnosed with colon cancer, so tell your doctor if you notice abnormal bleeding.
Another illness that people let go untreated or don't catch with regular visits: gingivitis.
Traylor said chronic infection in the mouth that can lead to infection in your heart and if infection gets down to your bones, that can be incredibly dangerous, sometimes taking months to treat.
