Those little groin lymph nodes are more important than you’d think (and may be the key to better health).
The human body is made up of trillions of cells, which comprise the organs, muscles, tissues, and internal systems that keep everything working well. It’s truly a marvelous and complex organism, but one that can develop problems if you don’t take care of it. Understanding it will help you to know what to do to improve your health.
Your lymph nodes are among the smallest of your body parts, but they’re a lot more important than you think. There are lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, and in your groin. The groin lymph nodes are surprisingly useful at telling you what’s going on with your body overall.
They point to infections. There are a number of bacterial and viral infections that can cause swelling in your groin lymph nodes. For example, viral infections like infectious mononucleosis (also known as “mono”) can cause swelling in all of your lymph nodes, including in the groin, neck, and armpits. Bacterial infections that attack your skin, bone, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle may also result in swelling in the groin lymph nodes.
They point to disease. STDs like herpes simplex, gonococcal infection, LGV, and syphilis can all cause swelling in your groin lymph nodes, as the lymph nodes swell up in order to produce more of the immune fluid (lymph) intended to protect your body. In some cases, bubonic plague may cause extreme inflammation and tenderness of the groin lymph nodes, accompanied by inflammation and redness. In really bad cases, the lymph nodes in the neck and armpit can also be affected.
They point to parasites. Toxoplasmosis can cause swelling in all of your lymph nodes, including the ones in your groin. While it’s not a serious problem for fully healthy people, newborn babies or those with compromised immune systems may suffer.
READ MORE: 10 Ways to Circulate Lymph Faster
They point to cancers. There are a number of cancers that can cause swelling in the groin lymph nodes, including melanoma, leukemia, pelvic malignancy, and lymphoma. All of these affect the lymph nodes to a certain degree—or, in the case of lymphoma, will lead to serious cancer in the lymph nodes.
They point to medication side effects. Not all medications ONLY do what they are designed for. Some can cause negative side effects in the digestive tract, circulatory system, or even in the lymphatic system. Certain medications can cause enlargement of the groin lymph nodes. This is most common among gout medications, epilepsy medications, and medications or bipolar disorder. Even vaccines (such as the MMR or typhoid) can lead to enlargement of the lymph nodes.
They point to serious health problems. Systemic disease like sarcoidosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis are often accompanied by swelling in the lymph nodes. The swelling isn’t just contained to the groin, either, but tends to be spread around the entire body. Inflammation of the lymph nodes is also another common symptom of systematic infection, especially among children.
They point to poor lifestyle choices. If you’re eating too much of the wrong food (foods high in chemicals and processed ingredients), you will contribute to slow lymphatic function. You may even cause swelling in the groin lymph nodes, as your body is unable to eliminate the toxins and chemicals in your artificial foods. A lack of exercise can also cause swollen lymph nodes, due to the body’s inability to drain the lymph fluid that has collected in the lymph nodes. By doing more exercise and eating right, you can improve lymph function significantly.
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