THE MOST INTRIGUING HEALTH QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Q&A

WE TURNED TO CLEVELAND CLINIC FOR ANSWERS TO SOME WEIRD, OBSCURE AND INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. What’s the point of tears?

Tears are extremely useful, says Chief Wellness Officer Michael Roizen, M.D. “Crying for emotional reasons makes you feel better, releases tension and gives you a psychic reboot,” he says. “Crying also delivers nutrients and washes out stressrelated toxins.” That’s because tears contain antibodies and proteins for resistance to infection. And if you’re wondering if women actually cry more than men, yes, about 60 percent more. Nobody knows why. But a chemical in emotional tears is associated with the production of breast milk, so that’s something researchers consider.

Is a funny bone really a bone?

“It’s actually not. It’s your ulnar nerve, which runs inside your elbow,” says orthopedic surgeon Kim Stearns, M.D. Hitting it triggers a surprisingly intense tingling pain.

Is ‘dead butt syndrome’ real?

It’s no joke. And your work-from-home desk is probably the culprit. Muscle tightness and weakness combine to create an imbalance, says chiropractor Andrew Bang, D.C., creating varying levels of hip and lower back pain. Luckily, there are simple remedies. A deep tissue massage can help combat the problem, so too can exercising your hip flexors and glutes, and making changes to your workstation, including sitting for 40 minutes and standing for 20 minutes. Visit Parade.com/ hips for a simple stretch to relieve tightness.

Can lip balm be addicting?

“It can definitely be habit-forming,” says dermatologist Melissa Piliang, M.D. “Applying it soothes your lips and can be very comforting, leading to an unconscious habit that helps with stress or anxiety—like twirling your hair or biting your nails.” At the same time, some lip balm can make your dry lips even drier, encouraging further application. Avoid ingredients like phenol, menthol and salicylic acid and anything containing scents or added flavoring.

Does sugar cause cancer?

You may have heard the phrase “sugar feeds cancer.” Cancer care nurse Josette Snyder, R.N., says that research supports the notion that cancer cells consume more sugar than normal cells, but there is no conclusive evidence proving that eating sugar will make cancer grow or spread more quickly or that cutting out sugar will prevent it. However, that doesn’t mean a high-sugar diet is healthy for you. Eating too many calories from sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity and diabetes, all of which are known risk factors for the development of cancer.

Why am I having weird dreams during the pandemic?

According to sleep psychologist Michelle Drerup, Psy.D., there’s a connection between anxiety and disturbing dreams. “We saw this after 9/11 as well—people were having an increase in vivid, disturbing dreams or nightmares.” One theory, she says, is that our brain is processing pieces of our day while dreaming. “It also could be that our sleep patterns are causing us to have more awareness that we’re having these dreams. If we’re spending more time in bed and getting more REM sleep, that could be a factor.”

Why does sweat create body odor?

“Sweat itself has no smell,” says dermatologist Rachel Ward, M.D. “But when it comes into contact with bacteria on your skin, that’s when things begin to turn foul.” She says bacteria eat organic particles in your sweat and expel digestive gas. “What you smell is bacterial flatulence.” If that’s not enough to make you run for the shower, consider this: When stress-induced sweat comes into contact with normal amounts of bacteria, it can stink even worse. It’s your body’s extreme response to a stressful situation, so apply an extra bit of deodorant if you know you might encounter one.