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" When you notice something amiss \u2014 a cough that won&amp;#039;t quit, sudden dandruff \u2014 you may run right to the computer to look up what could be going on. A recent survey found that 35% of Americans have used the Internet to self-diagnose a medical issue. Before you panic, discuss the online info with your doctor. And remember that some easy-to-detect signs call your attention to bigger problems at hand so you can address them on your own. Here, six common symptoms, why they happen and what you should do about them. 1. You pop mints hourly to hide your bad breath. Your body is hinting: You have an allergy.Some allergies cause a nasal drip, which can lead to not-so-fresh breath. Do this:Brush your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove odor-causing compounds. Avoid toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient that can be drying (saliva helps wash away food particles).Ask your doc for a referral to an allergist who can test you. Or, find a free allergy screening in your area, offered during the month of May. RELATED: 7 Reasons Why You Have Bad Breath 2. You have a nagging headache. Your body is hinting: Time to go for a walk. Exercise boosts blood flow to carry oxygen throughout your body. If you&amp;#039;re not active enough, your brain isn&amp;#039;t receiving as much oxygen as it could \u2014 which can cause headaches. Recent research found that inactive people were more likely to experience headaches than those who worked out. Do this: Take a 10-minute walk, alternating three minutes of brisk walking with one minute of strolling. Short amounts of activity can help increase blood flow to your brain, and exercise works even better when it raises your heart rate.See your primary care doctor if the throbbing pain doesn&amp;#039;t subside after a day or two to find out if you have a migraine headache. If your pain is very severe and came on suddenly, seek immediate care. 3. You have a cough, but it&amp;#039;s not a cold. Your body is hinting: Your stomach is off. A dry cough that lasts eight weeks or longer without typical cold symptoms could be due to acid reflux, which happens when acid from your stomach splashes back up into your esophagus and irritates your throat.  Do this: Chew sugar-free gum to increase the production of saliva, which can help neutralize acid that comes back up.Eat small meals so your stomach doesn&amp;#039;t become overstuffed, which can push acid upward. 4. Your nails break easily. Your body is hinting: More iron, please! Brittle nails can be a sign of an iron deficiency, especially if you&amp;#039;re also experiencing fatigue and cold hands and feet. Do this:Have your doctor check your iron levels with a simple blood test. If your levels are low, you may need a supplement.Load up on iron-rich foods like spinach and artichokes. Eat them with foods containing vitamin C, which aids iron absorption. RELATED: An Easy, 24-Hour Guide to Boosting Your Immunity 5. Your foot cramps suddenly while you&amp;#039;re in bed. Your body is hinting: Chug some water.Even mild dehydration can throw your electrolyte balance off-kilter, depleting the minerals your muscles need to function. Do this: Point and flex your foot to loosen muscles. Repeat this move throughout the day on both feet to ward off cramps. Call your doctor if the cramp doesn&amp;#039;t go away with stretching and a hot bath. You may need to have your electrolytes checked to find out if you are low on potassium or magnesium. You can also give yourself a quick foot massage to relieve tension: Place a tennis ball under each foot and roll back and forth. 6. You start to notice white flakes on your shoulders. Your body is hinting: Your thyroid is slow. When your thyroid gland doesn&amp;#039;t produce enough thyroid hormones \u2014 a condition otherwise known as hypothyroidism \u2014 your body&amp;#039;s functions slow down, including its production of oil. The result is dry skin on your scalp. Hypothyroidism also disrupts your pH balance, which can cause yeast growth and lead to dandruff. Do this:Wash your hair every day to get rid of dirt so your scalp can breathe.If you&amp;#039;re gaining weight and feeling very fatigued, see a physician to check your level of thyroid-stimulating hormone. The good news: It&amp;#039;s easy to treat hypothyroidism with medication. Sources: Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, author, The SuperFoodsRx Diet. Eva Cwynar, MD, endocrinologist and author, The Fatigue Solution: Increase Your Energy in Eight Easy Steps. Sandra A. Fryhofer, MD, internist and clinical adjunct professor of medicine, Emory University. David W. Grotto, RD, LDN, author, The Best Things You Can Eat. Harold Katz, DDS. This article originally appeared on WomansDay.com  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a21688/surprising-causes-health-symptoms/>