TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has explained the science behind five common symptoms that may feel random but have proper medical explanations. In a video posted on TikTok, he outlined the symptoms and when they should prompt a visit to the GP.
Eyelid twitching and the gastrocolic reflex
Dr Khan first addressed eyelid twitching, a condition called myokymia. He described it as a spontaneous, involuntary muscle contraction, usually of a particular muscle in the eyelid, often triggered by caffeine, fatigue, or stress.
He said: "You don't need to worry. It's benign and self-limiting in most cases. But if it does spread beyond the eye or doesn't stop after a few weeks, speak to your GP."
The second symptom, which Dr Khan described as "really common", is the effect of coffee on the bowels, particularly in the morning. This is due to the gastrocolic reflex, a natural response where stretching the stomach sends signals to the colon to get moving.
Breathing patterns and nighttime symptoms
The third symptom is feeling out of breath while speaking. Dr Khan said that in otherwise healthy people, this could be a breathing pattern disorder, sometimes called dysfunctional breathing. This means breathing is shallow, rapid, and mainly upper chest-based instead of coming from the diaphragm, and it can be caused by chronic stress, anxiety, habitual over-breathing, poor posture, or poor vocal use.
Dr Khan also explained why some people with health problems may feel worse in the evening and at night. He attributed this to dropping cortisol levels, which is an anti-inflammatory hormone, as well as the circadian rhythm shifting and the brain having fewer distractions at night.
Emotional sweating and when to seek help
Finally, Dr Khan addressed emotional sweating, which affects the hands, feet, or back due to nerves or stress. He explained that it involves eccrine sweat glands mostly in the palms, soles, and armpits, and is triggered by the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the fight or flight response.
Summing up, Dr Khan said: "So all of this isn't your body malfunctioning, it's just doing its thing. Most of these symptoms are completely harmless, but if they're persistent or affecting your quality of life, that's when it's time to speak to your doctor."
