From Dementia to Cancer: What Body Odours Reveal About Your Health

Everyone

has a body smell which you may emit from time to time – whether it is after exercising, a stressful day at work, or cramming yourself in the bus or train. We ALL emit a barrage of whiffy chemicals through our pores and in our breath. However, some are a sign that you may be getting ill and could be used to diagnose diseases up to years in advance.

A sudden change in body odour

Doctors say a sudden change in your body odour occurs in a specific area of the body. A few common areas include your genitals, armpits, feet, mouth and throat, and belly button. You may notice a sudden smell from your stool, urine, earwax, or genital discharge as well. No matter the location, doctors say the odour can vary and can be foul, pungent, fishy, sour, bitter, or even sweet. A few other symptoms you may experience depend on the cause. If the change in odour is due to infection, the smell may also be accompanied by:

• Redness
• A rash
• Itching
• Oozing, discharge, or discolouration

What can be the reason behind a change in body odour?

Doctors say there are many underlying disorders behind a change in body odours, which include your environment, what you eat, medicines that you take, or even shifts in hormone levels. While a sudden change in body odour can be a normal part of development, like an adolescent going through puberty, it can also be a reason behind something as sinister as cancer.

When is body odour a sign of diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that occurs when your body either doesn’t make enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar. If the blood sugar levels go very high, it can cause a complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis, where ketones build up to dangerous levels in the body and are secreted into the blood and urine. Additionally, DKA causes your breath to have a fruity smell.

When does body odour signal cancer?

Does cancer smell? Doctors say many people with advanced cancer report unpleasant body odours, but they are typically due to infected cancer-related wounds. These wounds happen in around 5 per cent of those with the dreaded disease. A few women battling gynecological tumours may also complain of unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge, which results from certain acids that occur.

Body odours and dementia

There is an indirect but significant relationship – which means a reduced ability to smell can be an early warning sign and risk factor for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Experts believe the e of a specific body odour itself is not a diagnostic marker, but changes in a person with dementia's hygiene habits can lead to body smell issues. Your brain is responsible for processing smells, like the olfactory bulb and entorhinal cortex, which are among the first areas damaged by the amyloid and tau protein deposits characteristic of AD. Anyone with dementia may forget to bathe, change clothes, or keep their living environment clean due to memory loss or difficulty with the steps involved in personal care.