5 Health Hazards That Are Right Under Your Nose

From my days on the force.

My headaches became more seldom after I stopped looking like a Chicago cop. Let me explain.
The mustache, a fine tradition in face grooming, is something I often sport. My mustache decision falls somewhere on a continuum with aesthetics on one end and apathy on the other. While its damage to my reputation or cuddliness are worth mentioning, I had never considered it a "health hazard." It was with the glee accompanying a real epiphany that I connected the following:

1) An unkempt mustache could, at its most wild, tickle the nose.
2) A tickled nose can trigger the body's natural response to nasal invaders, resulting in all sorts of sinus acrobatics, including headaches.
3) Most crucially, the mustache can be a repository of pollen and dust. As a seasonal allergy sufferer, the answer to reducing my sinus headaches was...here it comes... RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE.

This got me thinking-- what other health hazards, great and small, are lurking about the average domicile?  Or even on the average person? Or even in the average person's brain?

Brain Parasites that Make You Crazy

Toxoplasmosis—the sickness caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii—is the reason why the old, infirm, and/or pregnant are sometimes counseled to avoid cat litter boxes. (Don't be fooled by Toxo gondii's name—it's anything but nonviolent.) Toxo is a protozoan that is little threat to those with a healthy immune system, with the small caveat that it remains in your brain even after it's defeated.

A Czech scientist named Jaroslav Flegr is one of the world's foremost authorities on toxoplasmosis. He contends, among other things, that the dormant parasite can actually change your brain's makeup in subtle ways, even affecting your personality. Read this article and join the list of prominent scientists who say he sounds crazy right before they say, "That actually sounds plausible." And change your cat litter. Often.

Licorice is Quicker...at Giving You a Cardiac Event

Heart attack pills?

Many people know this, but it bears repeating: those with heart issues would be well advised to avoid excessive licorice. To quote the University of Maryland Medical Center's website, "Licorice with glycyrrhizin may cause serious side effects. Too much glycyrrhizin causes a condition called pseudoaldosteronism, which can cause a person to become overly sensitive to a hormone in the adrenal cortex. This condition can lead to headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure, and even heart attacks. It may also cause water retention, which can lead to leg swelling and other problems."

"But!" you shriek, "I like licorice for its medicinal benefits, like easing peptic ulcers!" That's OK. Medicinal licorice drops, such as those found at Foods For Living, are deglycyrrhizinated. (That's why they're called "DGL.")

Sorbitol
Much like my mustache, sorbitol is mostly harmless. But (unlike my mustache), it can cause diarrhea and other GI distress in some people. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol and common sweetener, popular in scores of products from chewing gum to cough syrup. It is not a synthetic product per se, as it's found in pears, apples, and some berries, though the version usually present in products is synthesized. Don't be alarmist—the chance of sorbitol intolerance is low. But if you are having digestive distress and can't determine the culprit, ask your doctor about sorbitol.

Rolling Out the Red Carpet... for Nastiness

This should not be how your carpet looks.

When it comes to secret repositories of nast, carpet is a culprit. As the International Association of House Inspectors will tell you, carpet mold is a problem. It can trigger allergic reactions, or even become toxic. Anti-mold-colonial advice includes the use of antimicrobial carpet padding and keeping carpet dry, especially after cleaning.

Pollen, my hated enemy, is as adept at hiding under my feet as it is under my nose. Pollen (and pet dander) in a carpet can exude a subtle miasma into the life of an allergic person until she's crying for mercy. Here are some quick tips on cleaning pollen out of carpet.

Between the Sheets

A potential crippling in the making.

There's nothing quite like the tidiness of a properly made bed. But quarter-bouncing bed tightness comes with a price—and it's a lot more than 25 cents. Too-tight sheets can constrict your feet and ankles, causing anything from mild discomfort to tendonitis. Impress your drill sergeant, but untuck the foot of your bed before sleeping.

Frankly, I had intended to include "germ hotspots" in this post, but the list of little-known germ danger zones from the kitchen alone would bloat this blog beyond acceptability. It looks like you'll be living in danger until text time.