Unusual Body Changes

By The Doctors Staff on 5:00 AM PST, January 17, 2011

Unusual and irregular conditions are more common than you think. Discover what causes your unusual body changes.


What can cause a metallic taste in the mouth during pregnancy?

Find out the foods that help ease baby constipation.

What may be causing your night sweats?


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Sore Tongue
While the tongue is commonly referred to as the strongest muscles in the body, it is actually made up of many different muscles, which help you talk, swallow and eat. It is covered with a mucous membrane and contains papillae, the small bumps on the surface of the tongue. In between the papillae are taste buds which detect four distinct tastes: salty, sweet, bitter and sour.

The tongue is covered in nerve endings, which can cause a lot of pain when it is sore.
Possible Causes of Tongue Soreness
 • Injury
• Smoking
 • Inflamed taste bud
 • Dry mouth

Heart Palpitations

Has your heart ever skipped a beat? Find out when it's normal and when you need to seek medical attention.

• Iron deficiency
 • Yeast infections
 • Cancer
 • Canker sores

If you have a canker sore, try these remedies:

• Anti-microbial mouthwashes
• Over-the-counter topical gels
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Milk of magnesia

"If you have any sore, anywhere, that doesn't go away," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says, "definitely get it checked out, because it could be a sign of something bad."


Migraines and Vision

Ear Ringing

Do you hear loud ringing in your ears? Find out how to can silence the high-pitched problem.

• More on tinnitus

More than 25 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, which are thought to be caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the brain and tend to affect one side of the head. The dilated vessels pull on nerve receptors located near the blood vessels, causing pain signals to be sent to the brain. The result is a terrible, throbbing headache with a variety of symptoms. Migraines are difficult to treat, as symptoms and triggers vary among individuals, but they are often relieved by sleep.

Symptoms of a Migraine Headache: • Moderate to severe pain • Nausea • Sensitivity to light and colors • Loss of appetite • Dizziness • Fatigue • Aura

Foods such as coffee, red wine, cheese, chocolate and monosodium glutamate (MSG) or high levels of sodium can trigger migraines. Dr. Travis suggests headache sufferers keep a journal of their migraines to see what, if anything, triggers them.

Vanessa, 32, experiences intense pain in her eyes when she has a migraine, which affects her vision. She is concerned that the problem could be serious.

Vanessa visits optometrist Dr. Ryan Stybel to find out what is causing the pain. 

Learn how migraines can affect vision.

"We did all the tests I can do possible, looking from the front of the eye to the back of her eye, checking visual pathways in the brain," Dr. Stybel says of Vanessa's visit. "Fortunately for her, there was nothing going on with the eyes that were causing her headaches. No visual changes.

"I recommend her to go see a neurologist for further testing," he continues. "They might do an MRI or CT scan. Get everything else looked at behind the eye."

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