When it comes to health, it’s natural to look for symptoms of a problem and to overlook the signs our bodies are functioning as they should.

“We don’t tend to notice the signals we receive telling us our bodies are healthy and functioning well,” says Dr. Mina Guirguis, a physician at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at The Market Common. “In fact, there are many, seemingly mundane, signs of good health that happen daily with little attention or acknowledgment from us.”

Let’s look at six.

People may experience a muscle twitch occasionally and wonder why.

“Random muscle twitches are often a sign the nervous system is functioning,” says Dr. Guirguis. “Chances are it’s just a nerve sending a signal to a muscle that causes the muscle to contract briefly and involuntarily.”

Sweating is the body’s cooling system. Sweating easily, on a hot day or while exercising, can indicate that your temperature regulation system is working properly.

Food is the body’s fuel, and hunger pangs are a signal that it’s time to fill up the tank. Getting hungry at the same times each day shows that you are on a schedule for refueling and your digestive system is ready for a meal.

Bowel regularity — having bowel movements on a relatively consistent schedule — is another sign of a healthy digestive system.

Dr. Guirguis says having bowel movements two to three times a day can be normal and may indicate that food is moving efficiently through your body.

Sleep is a critically important part of the body’s daily, healthy cycle. It provides rest and time the brain needs to perform self-maintenance and repair.

“Getting sleepy around the same time each day means your body and brain are ready to rest. A consistent bedtime improves the quality of that resting time,” says Dr. Guirguis.

Laughing when something is funny or crying when you’re sad are signs that your brain is processing situations and emotions properly. Both responses also require bodily energy and are healthy ways for the body to process and relieve stress.

“These are all signs that the body is functioning as it should – signs that all is likely well,” says Dr. Guirguis. “Conversely, there are also signals people can miss or minimize that are a cause for concern and medical attention.”

• Always feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep, can indicate sleep apnea or poor-quality sleep.
• Strong sugar cravings can be associated with blood sugar instability, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
• Thinning hair or constantly feeling cold can be signs of a hormone imbalance or a circulation issue.
• A racing heart or a feeling of skipping beats while at rest can signal an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Irregular bowel habits can suggest irritable bowel syndrome or other diseases of the digestive system.

“Our bodies send us signals that help reassure us we are healthy,” says Dr. Guirguis. “The trick is to notice the normal, daily rhythms, to understand the messages they convey and to recognize when something interrupts that rhythm and signals that we need medical attention.”