The human nose detects more than 10,000 different scents through a labyrinth of more than 400 smell receptors. According to the National Institutes of Health, the perception of foul or pleasant odors is an individual characteristic and varies among different people. One person may think a nearby man has unpleasant body odor, while another person standing close by considers the same man sexy because of his smell. Smell is a hereditary trait that is governed by the genes.
Function
According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, humans can detect a number of qualities in other people through their sense of smell. Changes in body odor can indicate fear or stress and be noticed by others. Sexual chemistry often is defined by changing body odors imperceptible to some and distinctive to others. Smell changes can indicate fear and danger and can trigger a flight-or-fight response. The receptors in the nose serve as survival tools for the species and are usually, unbeknownst to the sniffer, governed by instincts.
Explanation
Body odor, while signaling emotional responses, also carries physical aspects that are common to most people. According to the Mayo Clinic, sweat produces a layer of moisture on the body to cool it off. When sweat mixes with bacteria, however, it delivers a foul smell, particularly from the armpits. The changes that occur after exercise or exertion can easily be eradicated by washing off the bacteria. Body odor changes resulting from sweating usually can be alleviated with deodorant and antiperspirants.
TMAU
Certain body odor changes can, however, signal a more serious medical concern. Trimethylaminuria, also called TMAU, is a metabolic disorder that results in a constant "fishy" body odor. According to Disabled World website, the condition is considered a rare disease and can lead to social isolation. Also called "fish odor syndrome," there is little treatment available for the problem. Low doses of antibiotics can alleviate some of the odor, and the odor often increases when people with TMAU eat eggs, beans, broccoli or seafood.
Hyperhidrosis
Stress, imbalanced hormones, heat and exercise can lead to changes in body odor due to excessive sweating. Called "hyperhidrosis," the condition is not medically serious and usually affects the hands, feet and armpits. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hyperhidrosis is caused by overactive endocrine glands. While not life-threatening, the excessive sweating increases body odor and makes the skin red, cracked and inflamed. Treatment can include Botox injections to cut off the sweat glands or surgery to cut off the nerve signals in the affected body parts.
Acromegaly
A serious medical condition that is often first diagnosed because of unusual changes in body odor is called "acromegaly." According to Johns Hopkins, the disease is caused by excessive hormone production in the pituitary gland, often caused by a tumor pressing on the gland. Usually affecting middle-aged adults, if left untreated, the illness can lead to death. Other symptoms of acromegaly include enlarged hands and feet, joint pain, deepening voice, high blood pressure and vision loss. Treatment usually requires removal of the tumor, as well as hormone injections and radiation.
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