PristenHealth
Sweating isn’t ordinarily harmful to your health, but it can sometimes be humiliating and upsetting, especially when you sweat. It can also have a detrimental effect on your quality of life, leading to sadness and worry.
There are no rules for determining the right amount of “normal” sweating. Still, if you notice that you sweat excessively and interfere with your daily life, you may have hyperhidrosis.
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is defined as sweating more than is typical.
This Excessive Sweating can affect your entire body or just particular parts. The following are some of the most commonly affected areas: your hands, armpits, feet’s soles, face, chest, and groin.
Sweating isn’t harmful to your health, but it can be humiliating and upsetting when you experience excess sweating. It can also have a detrimental effect on your quality of life, leading to sadness and worry.
Types of hyperhidrosis include; Primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Primary hyperhidrosis
Primary hyperhidrosis is also known as focal or essential hyperhidrosis. It usually occurs for no apparent reason and is generally inherited; therefore, you may know someone who has it.
Primary hyperhidrosis, which affects both men and women, develops in childhood and worsens with puberty (most especially in women). This type of condition triggers excessive sweat in areas such as your hands, underarms, feet, and face.
Secondary hyperhidrosis
Secondary hyperhidrosis or generalized hyperhidrosis is often caused by health conditions, behaviors, or excessive heat. It occurs all over the body or in more prominent parts of the body.
Causes include Syndromes of the nervous system, Thyrotoxicosis, Diabetes, Gout, Infection, Pregnancy, Menopause, Medications, Alcoholism, and injury to the spinal cord.
Hyperhidrosis patients do not have more sweat glands than the general population. Instead, the sympathetic nerve, which governs sweating, is oversensitive, resulting in excessive sweat production.
There are also cases where cancers often cause night sweats. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you only sweat at night. This will help narrow down unexpected outbreaks of disease or illness.
Symptoms Of Hyperhidrosis
You may notice the following symptoms if you suffer from hyperhidrosis:
Do you often see beads of sweat on your skin or have sweat-soaked clothing even when you are not exerting yourself?
When sitting, do you quickly get hot?
Does sweating make it challenging to hold a pen, walk or turn a doorknob?
Do you notice a lot of sweat on your papers or computer?
Does your skin become white, frail, delicate, and peel off in some areas?
Is your skin usually wet for long periods?
Do you experience recurring skin infections on the portions of your body where you sweat a lot?
Are Skin infections such as athlete’s foot and jock itch frequent?
In addition to the list above, you might also experience some of the following;
Sweaty hands or damp palms
Foot soles that are clammy or wet
Regular extreme sweating
Sweating that seeps through your clothes.
Inflammatory and painful skin conditions, such as bacterial or fungal infections
Apprehensive attitude to physical contact
Being self-conscious and over-worrying about getting stains on your clothes
Being Socially isolated can lead to depression.
Spending a lot of time dealing with sweat daily, such as changing clothes, wiping, inserting napkins or pads under the arms
Preference for washing and wearing bulky or dark clothing.
More Concerned about body odor than others
Causes Of Hyperhidrosis
Here are 11 reasons why you sweat excessively;
1. Medications
Always check the label for adverse effects when taking a prescription drug, as some may induce excessive perspiration.
Some medicines, such as Adderall or other methamphetamine compounds, might cause excessive perspiration.
2. Genetics
A genetic issue can also cause excessive sweating. Some people are usually born with it.
However, because it can be linked to your hormones, underlying conditions, health disorders, and even some mental health issues, it’s essential to consult your doctor if it’s becoming a problem for you.
Before receiving treatment for any medical condition, it is recommended that both doctor and patient consider the following;
- how severe the illness is
- the pros and cons of therapy
- how much the condition impacts the patient’s daily activities, and
- their ability to carry out leisure activities
3. Thyroid Disorder
Excessive sweating can be caused by underlying health issues such as an overworked thyroid.
Although sweating can be one of the adverse effects or symptoms of thyroid hormone abnormalities, this is more likely to be less frequent.
However, When the thyroid is overactive, this happens more frequently.
Your doctor can check to see if your thyroid levels are within normal range. If your thyroid is abnormal, your doctor may prescribe medication or devise a treatment plan for you.
4. Menstrual Cycle
Your levels of estrogen, progesterone, and other female hormones fluctuate during your period to help your body prepare for the menstrual cycle.
Unfortunately, these shifts can often cause core body temperature changes, and some women experience sweating… four to five days before their period.
But this improves typically after your period begins, and it isn’t always harmful.
5. Anxiety
Did you know that social anxiety can make you sweat as well?
Many people experience a mild form of social anxiety. Still, when it becomes severe, it is often followed by excess sweating in your underarms, palms, and even in your private area.
If you suffer from social anxiety, you may have uneasiness or feel nervous before going out in public.
Your heart rate may increase, your hands may become unsteady, and you may feel compelled to stay home.
6. Cancer
Suppose you constantly wake up in the night soaked in sweat. You should see a doctor as night sweats can sometimes indicate diseases like cancer, such as cancer of the lymph nodes.
This type of cancer is rare, and symptoms include late-night sweats.
7. Iontophoresis
This is a nonsurgical treatment type for primary hyperhidrosis where low-intensity electrical currents are used to treat patients.
8. Pregnancy
Pregnancy, like menopause and menstruation, causes hormone levels to fluctuate drastically, resulting in hyperhidrosis in many pregnant women, especially in the first and third trimesters and postpartum.
It also increases blood flow throughout the body, making the expectant mother feel warmer and sweat more. But this should all go away once you’ve delivered your baby and hormones become balanced after postpartum.
9. Heart Disease
Sudden and profuse perspiration can indicate the onset of a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply that normally nourishes the heart is cut off. This also triggers the neurological system’s fight-or-flight response, resulting in hot flushes or perspiration.
Frequent heart attack signs include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Arm, neck, shoulder, chest, or back pain.
- Chest squeezing, tightening, or high pressure.
10. Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s blood sugar and glucose usage. When caused by diabetes, low blood sugar levels can trigger the fight-or-flight response.
This reaction causes the production of chemicals such as adrenaline, which cause profuse perspiration. Long periods of low blood sugar can also harm nerves, particularly those that control sweat glands, resulting in a condition known as neuropathy.
11. Obesity
Obesity or having a BMI of 30 or higher might cause
hyperhidrosis. Obese people sweat more because they must expend more significant physical effort to carry out daily tasks and are more likely to become overheated.
They also have a low surface area for their weight, which means their bodies have to work harder to cool off, resulting in greater perspiration.
Hyperhidrosis is a common condition that affects 1 and 3 people every 100.
Although this condition often begins during infancy or shortly after puberty, it can also occur at any age.
Always go for regular checkups and speak up if you notice abnormal sweating symptoms. This will significantly help rule out possible causes of serious illnesses.
References:
NHS Inform: Hyperhidrosis
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Hyperhidrosis
Pristen Health
