Feeling Your Heart Beat / Palpitation

Most of us are unaware of the beating of our hearts unless we have been running or exercising. But some of us notice a strong, fast, fluttering, or irregular hearbeat even when we are still. This may be more noticeable when lying down, particularly on our left side. This awareness of our heart beating medically known as PALPITATIONS, is usually a normal, benign sensation. The term Palpitation is commonly used to describe irregular, in particular, fast, heartbeats, too.

Palpitations are a common sign of everyday anxiety and fear, the typical flight or fight reaction. But they can be severe, too, as in a Panic Attack. A racing, pounding heart can also be a clue that you have been smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or consuming too much caffeine from coffee, tea, or colas. Palpitations can also signal cocaine or amphetamine abuse, or they can be a reaction to some common drugs that cause tremors, such as some decongestants, antidepressants, asthma medicines, and thryoid medications. Certain herbal supplements such as ginseng, and those touted for weight loss such as guarana and ephedra, can also make your heart race.

Palpitations can signal a plethora of medical problems as well. They can, for example, be a sign of a fever, anemia, low blood sugar, low pottasium levels, or hyperthyroidism.

Not surprisingly, Palpitations are a common sign of both benign and serious heart problems. These include Mitral Valve Prolapse (a very common and usually not too serious heart valve deformity) and Arrhythmias, abnormal or irregular heartbeats. Indeed, the terms Palpitation and Arrhythmia are often used interchangeably. When the heart beats too fast, it is referred to as Tachycardia. When it beats too slow, it is called Bradycardia.

If you feel an extra beat, it can be a sign a Premature Atrial Contractions, the most common and benign type of arrhythmia. On the other hand, if you feel like your heart occasionally skips a beat, it may be a sign of Premature Ventricular Contractions. While Premature Ventricular contractions are often benign, they can be a sign of heart disease or an electrolyte imbalance, an imbalance of mineral in the blood that can cause serious heart and kidney problems if untreated. Unfortunately, some Premature Ventricular Contractions are potentially life-threatening, especially when accompanied by a racing heart, dizziness, or fainting, or in a person with heart disease.

Hand Tremors / Body Tremors

If you notice someone's hands or body is trembling, you might assume that the person is nervous or has a drinking problem, and you may be right. But tremors can also signal a myrias of other maladies.

There are more than 20 different types of tremors. ESSENTIAL  TREMORS, also known as POSTURAL  TREMORS, are the mildest and the most common type. They usually affect the hands, but the head, arms, legs, larynx (voice box), and even the tongue can be affected as well.

Previously called SENILE  TREMORS because they are common in older people, essential tremors can begin at any age. They do tend, however, to worsen as one gets older. In about half the cases, essential tremors run in families and are referred to as FAMILIAL  TREMORS. In the other half, the cause is unknown (idiopathic).

Although medically benign, essential tremors are frequently embarassing and can make activities requiring fine finger movements, such as sewing, fly tying, and surgery are difficult, if not impossible. Thus, they interfere not only with quality of life but with careers as well. Interstingly, essential tremors tend to stop when the affected body part is at rest.

Some tremors are drug-induced and can be a tip-off to the overuse or abuse of caffeine, nicotine, tranquilizers, amphetamines, and cocaine. MORNING  TREMORS are a dead giveaway for alcohol abuse. Tremors are also a common reaction to antipsychotic drugs, theophylline (for asthma), Dilantin (for epilepsy), and Compazine (a tranqiuilizer and antinausea medicine), as well as the herbal stimulants ephedra, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng.

Tremors sometimes signal Alkalosis, a pH imbalance (too little acid in body fluids). Other signs may include muscle twitching, light-headedness, numbness, and tingling. ALKALOSIS-RELATED  TREMORS can be a clue to the eating disorder bulimia. The good news is that alkalosis is easily treated. The bad news is that if untreated, it can lead to Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), coma, and possibly death.

Tremors can also signal systemic disorders such as hypoglycemia (in both diabetics and others) and hyperthyroidism. And they can signal multiple sclerosis, kidney and liver disease, stroke, or even a brain tumor.

Another type of tremor occurs when your arm, leg, or other body part is at rest. Aptly named a RESTING  TREMORS, this is one of the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease. Other early signs of Parkinson's may include a change in handwriting, loss of sense of smell, stumbling, and rigid posture.

A  "pill-rolling" finger gesture is a unique sign of Parkinson's disease. The tremor looks like the thumb and forefinger are rolling a pill between them. This repetitive gesture can occur as often as 3 times per second. It is most noticeable when the hand is at rest or the person is under stress.

Our bodies are vibrating continuously. The only time we are perfectly still is when we are dead.



Leg Cramps During The Day

If you frequently get leg cramps when walking or climbing, you may be experiencing INTERMITTENT  CLAUDICATION, a decreased flow of oxygen-rich blood to the extremeties caused by fatty plaque build up in the leg arteries. This condition is the classic sign of Peripheral Arterial Disease, a progressive circulatory problem that is potentially life threatening.

Leg cramps, particularly in one leg can also be a sign of another potentially life threatening condition, Deep Vein Thrombosis. In Deep Vein Thrombosis a clot forms in a large vein and can easily break off and travel to the heart and lungs, leading to death. Other signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis, which usually come on fairly suddenly, are muscle tenderness or deep muscle pain, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and discoloration of the affected area.

Deep Vein Thrombosis occur more often in people over age 40 and those who are immobilized for a prolonged length of time from either illness, injury, or some other reason. In fact, Deep Vein Thrombosis is sometimes called Economy Class Syndrome or Traveler's Thrombosis because long flighted in confined coach cabins have led to Deep Vein Thrombosis related fatalities. Being cooped up causes blood to pool in the legs deep veins, setting the stage for dangerous clotting.

Women on hormone replacement therapy or those taking birth control pills are at increased risk of developing these deadly clots, as are pregnant women. People with clotting disorders or certain medical conditions that restrict mobility, such as heart failure or chronic respiratory disease, are at risk as well.

Also at high risk for developing these clots are people with broken legs, those undergoing surgery (especially orthopedic, pelvic, or abdominal operations), and cancer patients. And if you have had one episode of Deep Vein Thrombosis, you are at increased risk of having another.

If you have tenderness, swelling, redness, or warmth in one leg and then begin to have chest pain or trouble breathing, these can be signs of a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal complication of a Deep Vein Thrombosis.

No matter how long or short your plane flight is, get up and walk around periodically. This can help ward off Deep Vein Thrombosis. Wearing support stockings or socks, especially on long flights, can also help prevent this potentially deadly condition.

Deep Vein Thrombosis without an obvious precipitating cause may be one of the very earliest clues to cancer. In fact, the link between Deep Vein Thrombosis and cancer was first noted by the 19th century physician Armand Trousseau. Ironically, Trousseau himself later developed Deep Vein Thrombosis and was diagnosed with stomach cancer within a year.



Leg Cramps During The Night



You are peacefully in slumberland and suddenly you are awakened by a piercing sensation in your leg. You have the classic sign of NOCTURNAL  LEG  CRAMPS, also known as CHARLEY  HORSE.  These involuntary contractions of calf muscles, and occasionally muscles on the soles of the feet, are very common in older people. In fact, about 70% of adults older than 50 are occasionally jolted out of sleep by these tightening sensations. People with flat feet seem to get them more often, too. While no one is quite sure what brings these night visitors on, they can be a sign of overexertion or dehydration. Although harmless, nocturnal leg cramps can sometimes signal diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, anemia, and thyroid problems.

If you have tenderness, swelling, redness, or warmth in one leg and then begin to have chest pain or trouble breathing, these can be a signs of a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal complication of a deep vein thrombosis.



Jittery Legs

Okay, you finally get to sit down in front of the television before going to be. Suddenly you experience a searing, tingling, bubbling, "creepy-crawly" sensation in your leg, which seems to be relieved only by moving it. You are experiencing the classic signs of a neurological disorder called RESTLESS  LEG  SYNDROME. Although these jerky sensations, which occur at intervals of 30 to 60 seconds, can occur during periods of inactivity. In fact, Restless Leg Syndrome is sometimes considered a sleep disorder. Because the sensations can cause difficulty falling or staying asleep, Restless Leg Syndrome sufferers often feel daytime fatigue.

Restless Leg Syndrome is not just an impediment to getting a good night sleep, a recent Canadian study found some evidence that it is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, especially in the elderly. Another study suggests that Restless Leg Syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome may be linked.

The Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have devised a single question to determine which patients are likely to have Restless Leg Syndrome: "When you try to relax in the evening or sleep at night, do you ever have unpleasant, restless feelings in your legs that can be relieved by walking or movement?"  If you answer YES, you probably have this annoying condition.



Night Jerks

Ahhhhh...the sweetness of deep sleep after an exhausting day that is until you are jerked awake by a sudden feeling of falling. Tagged with several medical monikers, including Myoclomus, Myoclonic Twitch, and Hypnic or Hypnogogic Jerk. This is a common and benign, albeit sometimes very heart stopping sign. Whatever it is called, it is actually an involuntary muscle twitch that generally occurs during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. most of us have them occasionally, and they tend to occur when we are overly tired or sleep deprived.

This nocturnal jerks may be associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, a neurological condition and other sleep related disorders.

Sometimes, however, you might be awakened repeatedly by night jerks. These movements are a bona fide medical condition called Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. It can sometimes be a sign of the sleep disorder Narcolepsy, a condition in which people fall asleep involuntarily.

Numb Feet / Tingly Feet

If your feet often feel numb and tingly, it can be an indication that you are heading toward TARSAL  TUNNEL  SYNDROME, the lower extremity cousin of carpal tunnel syndrome. A hot, burning sensation in the feet is another sign of this problem, which falls under the category of a nerve entrapment condition. Any trauma or growth that puts pressure on a nerve in the foot can lead to this nerve entrapment condition. A tingly, burning sensation in the feet can also be a warning sign of peripheral neuropathy from diabetes or other conditions.

This sensation may also be a signs of a progressive and destructive bone disorder known as Charcot's Joint. This disorder usually affects weight bearing joints, in particuclar the knees and feet, but it can involve the hips as well. Other signs of Charcot's joint are loose or swollen joints and other foot and ankle deformities. One of these, known as Rocker Bottom Foot, is a condition in which the foot's bone structure collapses, leaving a ball-like bulge.

Charcot's joint is fairly common in people who suffer from nerve damage from uncontrolled diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Actually, anyone who suffers from any type of nerve damage from any cause can find themselves with this disorder.

Tingling, burning, and numbness located in the front of the foot can also be a sign of a benign lesion known as a neuroma. People who have this condition notice the symptoms even more when they wear a tight fitting shoe, as the neuroma or nerve ball is compressed. Some patients will also describe the sensation of having a pebble in their shoe or the sensation that their sock is bunched up in the front. Fortunately, most neuromas can be treated successfully without surgery but may require a presciption foot orthotic or injections.

Numb Fingers / Tingly Fingers

Sometimes that all-too-familiar funny bone feeling is felt in the fingers or even the feet rather than the elbow. Tingly, numb, and sometimes burning fingers may point to CARPAL  TUNNEL  SYNDROME, a nerve condition caused by pressure on the Median Nerve in the wrist. At first, you might think that your hand keeps falling asleep. Carpal tunnel syndrome tends to strike people in their mid-40s, and women are more apt to develop it than men. This condition is more annoying than painful, but as it progresses, the sufferer may have difficulty gripping and may frequently drop objects.

It is long been believed that carpal tunnel syndrome is a sign of over use of the fingers from activities such as typing, assembly-line work or piano playing. Some researchers believe, however, these factors are overstated; recent studies have found that in certain cases carpal tunnel syndrome can be a signal of such medical disorders as osteoarthritis, diabetes, and hypothyroidism.

If you spend many hours at the computer, you probably perform between 50,000 and 200,000 keystrokes a day. This can make you vulnerable to muscle, nerve, and other injuries to your neck, back, shoulders, arms, and hands.

Funny Bone Feeling

If you have banged your elbow, you know what hitting your funny bone feels like. You also know it is far from funny. It may feel like an electric tingly shock up and down your arm. But if you have this feeling even when you have not whacked your elbow, you probably have what is medically known as CUBITAL  TUNNEL  SYNDROME, a nerve compression disorder. In both cases it is the ulnar nerve that is being affected, and the funny sensations can spread from the elbow to the hand and the fingers, usually the pinky and ring finger. The funny-bone sensation is usually a clue that you have had your elbow flexed for long periods, such as during sleep. Or it may mean that you were working at a computer, engaging in activities that involve repeatedly bending the elbow (such as doing biceps curls), or have had an injury to your elbow. While cubital tunnel syndrome is usually benign, in severe cases the muscles in the forearm may weaken.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is similar to golfer's elbow, medically known as Medial Epicondylitis, but people with golfer's elbow usually complain more of pain than tingling.

Numb Or Tingly Extremities

Numb or tingly legs, in particular, are sometimes signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease. Also called Peripheral Vascular Disease a serious circulatory problem that affects arteries other than in the heart and brain. It is caused by a build up of fatty plaque in the legs, much like the fat deposits seen in the heart in Coronary Artery Disease or the brain in Cerebrovascular Disease. And like people with Cerebrovascular Disease, people with Peripheral Arterial Disease are at very increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Some other Peripheral Arterial Disease signs are leg cramps when walking and coldness in the extremeties. Having diabetes increases the risk of Peripheral Arterial Disease. And because diabetes itself can lead to heart disease, stroke, and decreased circulation in the legs and feet, having both Peripheral Arterial Disease and diabetes raises the risk of these complications as well as foot and leg amputations.

Numbness and tingling in the arms or legs can also be early warning signs of Peripheral Neuropathy, a damage to the  peripheral nervous system, the nerves that transit sensory signals to and from the brain and spinal cord. As Peripheral Neuropathy progresses, feeling in the arms, fingers. legs, and toes diminishes, increasing the risk of infections, wounds that do not heal, and consequent amputations. Uncontrolled diabetes is a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy in the United States.

A physical injury, an autoimmune disorder, or a bacterial or viral infection such as shingles, Lyme Disease (a bacterial infection transmitted by deer ticks), or HIV / AIDS can also cause nerve damage. Peripheral Neuropathy related numbness and tingling can signal a whole host of systemic disorders ranging from vitamin deficiencies to kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, alcohol addiction, and benign or cancerous tumors. It can also be a reaction to some of the drugs used to treat cancer.

Numb or tingly arms or legs can signal Hyperaldosteronism, an excess of the hormone aldosterone, which is made by the adrenal glands and helps maintain the salt and water balance in your body. Besides leading to numbness ang tingliness, too much aldosterone can cause you to retain sodium and lose potassium, resulting in frequent urination, muscle weakness or cramps, and high blood pressure. Hyperaldosteronism itself can signal an adrenal tumor known as Conn's Syndrome. The good news is that this tumor is noncancerous in 95% of cases.

Lastly, tingliness particularly in the legs is one of the earliest signs of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a potentially life threatening disorder. This progressive and sometimes rapid onset disease causes the body's immune system to attack the peripheral nervous system, leading to paralysis. Guillain-Barre Syndrome can occur after a viral infection, surgery, or trauma, or as a reaction to an immunization.

About 75% of people with peripheral artery disease do not have any signs, so the condition goes undiagnosed. And women are less likely than men to have Peripheral
Arterial Disease signs.



Body Tingling And Numbness

Feeling tingly all over may sound pleasurable, and it can be a warm bath, an invigorating massage, and sex can all give us a tingly feeling. But having a tingling tush - medically known as BUTTOCK  PARESTHESIA, may be a  sign of something more than a sensuous lifestyle. Paresthesias are abnormal sensations, such as tingling, numbness, burning, prickling, a pins-and-needles feeling, or the sensation that a foot or arm has fallen asleep.

Buttock parethesia may signal a Pinched Nerve - as a paresthesia on any part of the body. Pinched nerves can be caused by repetitive movements, joint and spinal injuries or diseases, and even pregnancy. A very common form of chronically pinched nerves is known as Nerve Entrapment Syndrome. Entrapment disorders include Tennis Elbow; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which affects the hands, wrists, and forearms; and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, which affects the feet.

Paresthesia can also be a sign of many other conditions that may or may not be related to pinched nerve. These include pregnancy, spinal injuries or conditions such as ruptured or herniated disc, and brain abscesses or tumors.

Occasionally, numbness and tingling are forewarnings (aka Auras) of a migraine or epileptic seizure. They may also signal Sensory  Seizures, a type of epilepsy involving distortions of the senses rather than convulsions. And feeling numb and tingly can be a sign of several serious systemic and autoimmune conditions including hypothyroidism, diabetes, and sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a serious but rare inflammatory disorder that may at first manifest few if any signs. But as it progresses, sarcoidosis can affect many body parts, including the skin, eyes, ears, nose, and internal organs.

Facial, body, or limb numbness is also one of the most common and earliest warning signs of the neuromuscular disorder, Multiple Sclerosis. In addition, paresthesia can be a clue to Vitamin B12 Deficiency or even the more serious Pernicious Anemia, a severe form of anemia (low red blood cell count) caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12. Interestingly, too much vitamin B6 can cause paresthesia, as can abnormally high levels of calcium, potassium, sodium, and lead. Excessive tobacco and alcohol use can produce numbness and/or tingliness, too.

Sudden numbness or tingliness along with any of the following may signal either a mini-stroke  medically called a Transient Ischemic Attack - or a full blown stroke:

•  Weakness in an arm or leg, face, or one side of your body
• Having trouble speaking, seeing, or walking
• Dizziness or fainting
• Confusion or difficulty understanding people
• Sudden headache, especially with a stiff neck
  

 

Bump On Your Heel

If you are having difficulty getting those slingbacks on because of a bone growing on the back of your heel, you may have POSTERIOR  CALCANEAL  EXOSTOSIS, aka "pump bumps." This bony protrusion, which also goes by the name HAGLUND'S  DEFORMITY, is characterized by enlargement of the large bone of the heel (calcaneus).

These pump bumps can be painful, particularly if you develop BURSITIS, an inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that lubricate and cushion joints throughout the body, from repeatedly wearing shoes that put pressure on the backs of your feet. But they can be hereditary as well.

Twisted Toes

If the toes between your big toe and your pinky toe look like inverted V's - or more like a hawk's foot than a human's - it is likely the telltale sign of HAMMERTOE, a common foot deformity. With hammertoe, the toe is bent at the middle joint. Indeed, as its name suggests, the toes buckle and point downward, giving the toe a hammer-like look.

Hammertoes are usually a benign but unattractive and sometimes painful sign that you are wearing the wrong shoes. If your shoes do not allow your toes to stretch out when you walk, your toes can bend permanently.

If you find yourself buying wider and wider shoes and your big toe is pointing out to the side rather than straight ahead, you have the classic sign of a BUNION. While bony protrusions at the base of the big toe are the hallmarks of a bunion, a similar protrusion at the base of the little toe is called a BUNIONETTE. A bunion - medically known as HALLUX  VALGUS, can get quite large and cause the big toe to crunch into or grow under its neighbor. Swelling and redness are other common signs of bunions, which can produce mild to severe pain.

Bunions tend to be more common in families and in people with flat feet or low arches. There is some controversy about the real cause of bunions. Some believe that, as with hammertoes, they are proof positive that you have been trying to cram your feet into shoes that are too small, too narrow, or too high-heeled. Others insist that bunions are due to an inherited mechanical imbalance that puts undue stress on the big toe. Most agree that both are factors. Bunions can also be an early warning sign that arthritis is just a step or two behind.

Half the women in America have bunions.



Bump On The Wrist Or Hand

Finding a lump anywhere can be pretty frightening. But if you have recently developed one on your hand or the back of your wrist, you probably have nothing to wring your hands over. It is most likely a sign of Ganglion Cyst, a benign fluid-filled lump. These cysts can actually pop up anywhere on the hand ang fingers and on other parts of the body as well. Women are more likely to have them than men, and they are especially common in gymnasts.

The bump swells with physical activity and decreases when the hand is at rest. Although they can be tenser and achy, ganglion cysts tend to be most one-third of these cysts will disappear on their own.

A lump on the hand can also be a sign of Gout or Rheumatoid Arthritis. But people with these conditions are likely to have pain and other signs.

Curled Fingers

Have you ever noticed someone whose fingers are always bent like a claw? If so, that person is displaying the classic sign of DUPUYTREN'S  DISEASE or DUPUYTREN'S  CONTRACTURE, a rare, slowly progressing and painless but debilitating disorder. This condition often starts with a small nodule in the palm and then progresses to a thickening and scarring of the connective tissue in the palm and fingers. As a result, the fingers - usually the ring fingers and pinky - permanently curl, the hallmark of this condition.

Although the cause is unknown, some people may have a genetic predisposition. Dupuytren's disease is most prevalent among whites of Northern European. (especially Scandinavian) descent and is more common in men than women. Smokers and heavy drinkers are at increased risk. One or both hands may be affected. The ring finger is affected most often, followed by the little, middle, and index fingers.

Dupuytren's is often seen in people with diabetes. In fact, it is been estimated to occur in up to two-thirds of people who have had diabetes for many years. It can also be a clue that a person is suffering from epilepsy or a thyroid, liver, or lung disease. People with Dupuytren's disease may also have other rare connective tissue disorders, including Peyronie's disease, which causes the penis to bend.

If, however, only one finger is locked in a curled position, it is a sure-fire sign of a Trigger Finger - medically known as Stenosing Tenosynovitis. This condition tends to affect people who engage in repetitive hand and finger movements at work or play, such as at a computer keyboard. People who spend a lot of time gripping hard objects, such as power tools, garden tools, or even musical instruments, are also at increased risk for this condition. These strenuous activities trigger tiny injuries to the fingers. Also at risk are people with diabetes, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and some lung and skin infections. Women are more likely than men to suffer from Trigger Finger.

Although some people with Dupuytren's disease also have Trigger Finger, the conditions are medically different. Moreover, Trigger Finger can cause more pain than Dupuytren's. People with Trigger Finger usually have more stiffness and discomfort in the morning.

Club-like Fingers

If someone is misshapen fingers look more like drumsticks than a witch's hand, that person may have what is known as CLUBBED  FINGERS. The clubbing can strike one or both hands, and sometimes only one finger.

Clubbed Fingers - digital clubbing, as the condition is also called -  usually develop very gradually and painlessly. Unfortuantely, they can be a sign of several serious conditions, especially if there are nail changes as well. About one in three people with lung cancer have this sign. Clubbed fingers can also signal other cancers and such lung diseases as Cystic Fibrosis and Tuberculosis. In addition, they can be markers for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and for heart disease, hyperthyroidism, and liver disease.

Knobby Knuckles

As children, many of us were scared by images of mean old ladies with gnarled hands going after small children. (Think the witch in the story of Hansel and Gretel.) Most women with knobby knuckles, however, are displaying the mark of HAND  OSTEOARTHRITIS, not of meanness. These painful bones growths on the fingers are unfortunate signs of aging that are especially common in older women. They are sometimes medically called HEBERDEN'S  NODE or BOUCHARD'S  NODE, depending on which finger and which joint is affected.

It is long been believed that frequently cracking your knuckles can lead to arthritis. There is, however, no evidence to support this theory. On the other hand, frequent knuckle popping can cause soft-tissue damage in the joints, as well as a decrease in the hand's gripping ability.



Left Handed

If you are left handed, you probably realize you are in the minority. In fact, only about 10% of the population are "southpaws" or "lefties," as left-handed people are sometimes called. This trait is thought to be primarily genetic (inherited) or congenital (present at birth). In the latter case, it is hypothesized the left-handed is the result of exposure to abnormally high levels of testosterone in the womb.

Left-handedness can be not just an inconvenience but a marker for a number of autoimmune disorders, especially thyroid disease and inflammatory bowel disease, which  encompassess Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition, being left-handed has been linked to some behavioral problems. Some of these problems, however, may be partly the result of parents or teachers trying to force lefties into being righties, a practice that is still widespread in some parts of the world.

A Dutch study found preliminary evidence that left-handed women are increased risk for developing premenopausal breast cancer. But the news is not all bad for southpaws. Lefties appear to have better memories than righties, as well as an advantage in hand-to-hand combat. And according to the French study, they tend to excel at such sports as baseball, tennis, and fencing.

Several surveys indicate that there is more left-handedness in the young than in the old. Some researchers contend that this is the result of social presssure to become right-handed. Other, more skeptical or some might say sinister, scientists claim that the dearth of left-handed elders means that left-handedness predisposes humans to an early death.