Illness and disease is an unfortunate element of living which affects all mankind. The general assumption is that this is an aspect of nature which has to be addressed and solved.
Most of us accept this is the normal situation, and seek the best medical solution we can afford to deal with it.
But there are a number of bizarre health problems which are actually self-created.
Some are completely avoidable, others less so. Most are related to modern living in one way or another, and some are weirder than you could ever have imagined.
For a start, how about fingers fractured by undoing bras, or blood clots from making the bed?
Our Life Daily team has selected some of the more bizarre health problems you probably won’t believe.
Here they are:
1. Brassiere finger
It appears that some young men have such a poor understanding of how to open a bra that they incur hand and finger injuries, such as ligament damage and bone fracture. There is the reported case of a 27-year-old man who arrived in an E.R. drunk, and with a painful left middle finger that needed surgery.
The finger had become twisted between the straps that crossed his partner’s shoulder blade and had fractured.
2. Cash-point amnesia
Sometimes known as “security protection code overload”, this is a state of mental blankness when trying to recall a PIN.
Many people fear that this is an early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, but that is not the case. It is just that it’s not normal for a human brain to store and recall all these numbers.
3. Ear worm
This is the condition in which a song or piece of music plays continuously in your head, and you can’t get rid of it. In extreme cases the music is continuous and perceived to be real and external. It can cause insomnia and significantly hinder concentration.
The Journal of Psychopathology warns that the condition is becoming more common due to us being increasingly inundated by music from radios and televisions, and in lifts, gyms and shopping centers.
4. Fiddler’s neck
A sweat rash on the neck, jaw and shoulder that may result in scales of skin building up, acne-like pustules and eventually scarring.
The British Journal of Dermatology states that it afflicts players of violins and violas, and warns that if fiddle players don’t wash their necks frequently, the area can become infected.
5. Golfer’s ear
This is a form of deafness linked to the acoustic shock that results from the heads of modern golf clubs hitting balls. Tests have shown that thin-faced titanium clubs produce greater noise levels than thicker-faced clubs.
Golfers were originally to wear earplugs, until golfing experts pointed out that this would mean players could not hear others’ shouts of ‘fore’.
6. Hamburger asthma
There is a substantially increased incidence of wheezing among children who eat hamburgers more than once a week. Researchers at Wellington Medical School in New Zealand, found that the higher a child’s hamburger consumption, the higher their risk of developing asthma.
It’s thought that the high levels of salt in hamburgers increases the volume of blood in the tiny vessels in the lungs making it harder for oxygen to cross into the bloodstream.
7. iPod infection
Wearing small insertable earphones is linked to an increased risk of earache from infection. A study of 50 young men found that samples from regular earphone users contained thousands of times more bacteria than those from infrequent listeners.
This is because earphones create a warm, humid environment which encourages bacteria to thrive. Sharing earphones makes matters worse.
8. Jalaproctitis
This is an uncomfortable burning sensation in the butt, caused by eating hot curries or fiery jalapeno peppers.
The pain and discomfort is because very little of the powerfully hot capsaicin spice is absorbed as it passes through the human digestive tract.
9. Karaoke throat
Strenuous singing associated with karaoke has been linked to voice-related injuries such as laryngitis and deafness.This is because most karaoke singers have no formal training, and are more vulnerable to developing voice problems.
10. Leisure sickness
This is a set of symptoms, such as nausea or sore throats, that strike people when they take time off work. The symptoms are real, though they are not the result of infections. In a survey of nearly 2,000 people, it was found that 3 per cent regularly become ill as soon as they stopped working and tried to relax.
Colds and flu-like complaints were often associated with longer holidays, while nausea, fatigue and muscular pains were more common at weekends.
11. Misophonia
This is the term for a hatred of sounds such as blackboards being scraped or carrots crunched. The problem appears to be due to the way some brains are configured.
12. Pantie-girdle Syndrome
A tingling or swelling in the foot may be caused by wearing an excessively snug pantie-girdle. The symptoms include an accelerated pulse, stomach pain and a displaced diaphragm, which causes difficulty in breathing.
13. Restless Genital Syndrome
This recently identified disorder causes spontaneous unwanted orgasms in women. It is linked to malfunctioning nerves in the vagina and can persist for hours, days, or even months.
It has nothing to do with feelings of sexual desire, and feels intrusive and unwanted. Increasing numbers of women are complaining of such sensations; all said it made them feel depressed and agitated.
14. Sheet-fitting palsy
People who make up beds with sheets with fitted corners may be prone to blood clots in their wrists. These are caused by the flexing movement needed to tuck in the sheets.
The clots cut off blood flow to the median main nerve, causing a local ‘stroke’ in the wrist, leading to numbness or weakness.
15. Urban hypothermia
This illness affects binge-drinking young women who wear skimpy clothes in cold weather. Crop tops and mini-skirts may be trendy, but they are not a good plan when it’s minus 10 degrees. Additionally, alcohol has the side-effect of lowering body temperatures.’
16. Walker’s helmet paradoxWearing a safety helmet increases the risk of being knocked off a bicycle! At least, according to Dr Ian Walker, a traffic psychologist at Bath University.
He rode a bicycle fitted with a computer and an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data about the space left by 2,500 drivers as they overtook him. He was struck twice; he was wearing a helmet both times.
Were these health problems bizarre enough for you?
Maybe you know of others we could add to the list?
You can share your thoughts and ideas by using the comments feed below.
