All the Facts About Sweating

Sweating is a natural bodily function which we use to regulate our body temperature. Sweating is perfectly normal, though if you tend to sweat in the absence of heat, physical exertion or nervousness or sweat excessively, you may have a condition known as hyperhidrosis. While this is a fairly common condition, the causes and the treatments for it are not nearly so common.

Sweat originates in none other than the sweat glands and no two people sweat exactly the same as we're all born with anywhere from two to four million individual sweat glands, which aren't fully active until we reach puberty. The most common places for sweat to form are under the arms, the palms of the hands, the forehead, the back, and the feet. Many people are quite surprised to learn that women actually have more sweat glands than men, it's just that the men's glands are usually far more active.

Since sweating is how we maintain a stable body temperature, we sweat to keep our internal temperature cool when we're exposed to warm weather, during physical exertion and emotional stress. Diet also plays a role in what is called gustatory sweating, with foods and beverages which are heavily spiced or contain caffeine and alcohol tending to encourage sweating.

Excessive sweating can indicate conditions such as low blood sugar, hyperthyroidism, menopause and other hormonal shifts and infections. Sweating can also be caused by conditions which cause an elevated body temperature, particularly withdrawal from narcotics and alcohol.

There is also a condition called anhidrosis where sweating is insufficient, even nonexistent. This is a rare but very serious condition which can be caused by severe damage to the skin (such as burns), dehydration, as a side effect of some drugs or by skin diseases, as well as the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome.

After sweating, be sure to change your clothes or bed sheets right away, wash your body and face thoroughly with soap and water and then if you can, lower the room temperature just slightly to help your body get back to its own normal temperature and prevent more sweating. For most people, the use of strong antiperspirants that control odor as well as block the sweat ducts are an effective treatment. Look for products that contain the ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate in concentrations of ten to fifteen percent for controlling sweating under the arms.

Another way to keep hyperhidrosis under control is to drink plenty of water, especially during and after physical activity as well as after you've had an episode of sweating. This helps to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration. If you find yourself sweating for no apparent reason while experiencing symptoms including a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain or a sensation of pressure in the chest , see a physician immediately.

People who often suffer from excessive sweating even while they're in a comfortable temperature and haven't been engaging in physical activity may need medical treatment to resolve the problem. There are medications which can reduce the activity of the sweat glands and even an electrolysis procedure available which can temporarily shut down overactive sweat glands.

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