Reader questions and feedback on health issues. Also refer to prevention, disease, cure, healing, injury, poison, germs, doctors, odors, diagnosis, symptoms, reflexology, healing touch, theraputic touch, vision, floaters, retina, eye, sight, heartburn, stomach, migraine headaches, hyperactivity, ADD, ADHD, waterless cooking, low-fat, trans fat, exercise, bottled water, chlorination, well, mediation, tension, aerobic, exercise, longevity, lifestyle, degradation, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Health:
Doctors Smelled
The following 4 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Person smells like tobacco
- Perspiration smelled bad before taking Zoloft
- Looking for update on doctors smelling
- What is the smelling of a patient called?
Person smells like tobacco
Question
September 5, 2007
I WAS INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT OF DOCTORS "SMELLING" PATIENTS TO DIAGNOSE ILLNESS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY SKIN FREQUENTLY SMELLS LIKE TOBACCO. I HARDLY EVER HAVE CONTACT WITH TOBACCO IN ANY FORM. I SEEM TO NOTICE IT MOST OFTEN JUST AS I'M GETTING INTO THE SHOWER WHEN THE STEAM COMES IN CONTACT WITH MY SKIN. ANY IDEAS WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN?
- USA
14353
Answer
It is very possible that your skin is absorbing second-hand smoke from someplace in your environment. Such a smell could absorb in your skin but not be noticeable in you clothes. People who worked in offices where others smoked often would smell like they smoked themselves. But of course, most places have banned smoking in a closed environment.
Another possibility is that some foods you eat result in a tobacco-like odor. But I don't know of anything specific that causes a similar odor. I also don't know of any diseases that cause such a smell.
Ask a close friend or relative if the person notices that you have a tobacco smell. Also check places where you go if there is smoking nearby.
It is a puzzle. Best wishes in finding out the cause.
Perspiration smelled bad before taking Zoloft
Question
December 13, 2005
I am now taking Zoloft for depression. Before I started taking Zoloft I had a strong chemical like odor that built up in my clothes and my bed. My pillow smelled so strong that I had to throw the pillow away after so long. I bought a new pillow and left the plastic cover on it to prevent it becoming contaminated. Luckily my wife could just barely smell the odor. I haven't had the odor problem since I have been taking the Zoloft. Am I telling you something familiar?
Truman - USA
9373
Answer
You can often tell when a person is continually nervous or anxious, because their perspiration has a strong odor. There is a relationship between being depressed and anxiety, so it is quite possible that your perspiration had a strong odor that got on your clothing and bedding.
Looking for update on doctors smelling
Question
December 8, 2005
Has there been any update on this subject, Doctors, "smelling" patients? To ME, this is very interesting and something I'd like to pursue and interview someone on for an internet-wide podcast.
Let me know if anyone is interested.
Michael - USA
9312
Answer
Unfortunately, physicians seem to depend more on machines and laboratory tests than such personal things as how the patient smells or how the patient urine smells. These old-fashioned tests can give a good idea of what is wrong and often work when expensive medical tests don't. But insurance companies would not stand for those techniques and doctors also fear getting sued if they are wrong.
I doubt if you could find any active doctors in the U.S. that use their nose to get an indication of what is wrong with patients. Some of the retired doctors may know about the techniques. Note that in the Third World countries doctors use such methods as smell and taste to get an idea of what ails the patient.
It is not to say that modern techniques aren't superior, but I feel that doctors need to get closer to their patients to truly be effective.
Let me know if you find out more about this. It certainly sounds like an interesting podcast.
What is the smelling of a patient called?
Question
June 3, 2005
What is the smelling of a patient called? My Grandmother was a backwoods Dr in Tennessee, but i can't remember the term used
kate - Australia
7160
Answer
One term is olfaction in the diagnosis of diseases. But that probably is not what you are looking for. I don't know any other term.
Summary
Hopefully, this reader feedback has helped provide information about Health issues.
Always do your best
Resources
The following are some resources on this topic.
Websites
Books
Top-rated
books on General Health
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback.
Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.
Where can you go from here?
Answers to Readers' Questions