Body signals

What does it mean when your heart skips a beat? And why do your fingers turn white when you're cold? These quirks have simple explanations, says family physician Heidi Oetter in Port Coquitlam, B.C. If the problem persists, head to the hospital, adds Dr. Kymm Feldman, a family physician at Toronto's Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre. So, how do you separate harmless from harmful symptoms? Use this guide to translate your body language.

Body signals
Choose a symptom Shortness of breath Seeing "stars" White fingers A skipped heartbeat Foot and leg cramps at night Shortness of breath What it could mean · As with 63 per cent of Canadians, you're probably not exercising enough. How to respond · Hit the gym, walk or climb the stairs for 30 to 60 minutes, four to seven days a week. Get help if you're... · Regularly coughing or wheezing—may indicate asthma. · In pain or nauseated, potential heart attack signs. Seeing "stars" What it could mean · You've experienced a temporary drop in blood pressure after standing up suddenly. How to respond · Offset dizziness by putting your head between your legs. · Make sure you're well hydrated and nourished. Get help if you're... · On medication. · Also experiencing a headache or having trouble speaking. Call 911 or dial 0 for emergency as it might be a stroke. White fingers What it could mean · You're cold, so blood vessels have constricted to keep the core of your body warm. How to respond · Wash your hands with warm water and wear gloves outdoors when it's cool. Get help if you're... · In pain or your fingers turn purple, possible evidence of rheumatoid arthritis. · Suffering from frostbite (fingers swell, turn red and then black). · Concerned that you have a persistent circulatory problem such as Raynaud's disease. A skipped heartbeat What it could mean · Your heart rate accelerated—thanks to an adrenalin rush or an extra cup of coffee—and is now regaining tempo. How to respond · Breathe deeply. Get help if you're... · Also suffering heart attack symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pains. Call 911 or dial 0 for emergency. Foot and leg cramps at night What it could mean · You've been wearing high heels, taking diuretic medications or have an imbalance in your sodium, potassium or calcium levels—minerals that help muscles contract and relax. How to respond · Stand facing the wall with your toes touching the baseboard. Extend the cramping foot a step backward and touch your heel to the ground. · Eat bananas for potassium, spinach for magnesium and drink milk for calcium. Get help if you're... · Experiencing them often. · Getting them in one leg only and it's accompanied by redness or swelling, suggesting a blood clot in need of emergency care.