Why Do I Sweat So Much?
Everybody sweats. It is one of the most natural things that we can do and it is a very important function for us. Without it, we might overheat, and this could be very problematic for us. As beneficial sweating is for us, however, that does not mean it is not without its drawbacks.
Excessive sweating can be unsightly and it can also lead to unpleasant odors. This can be very embarrassing for the patient, especially in social and professional settings. There are steps we can take to reduce the amount we sweat, but some people will still sweat more than other people will, and there are various reasons this can happen.
1. Heat
Perhaps by far the most common reason for excessive sweating is simply that we are too hot. Sweating is a bodily function that we have evolved to help keep us cool so, the hotter our bodies get, the more we sweat. Many people believe that sweating is an evolutionary advantage that helped us to become the dominant species on Earth. The obvious solution to this particular problem is to get to a cooler place, or adjust your heating. This is not always easy to do, depending on your circumstances, but antiperspirants and deodorants can at least help limit the symptoms of sweating.
2. Exercise
Another very common reason that you might be sweating a lot is because you have just been exercising. Exercising creates a lot of energy and heats up the body, so we will begin to sweat to help cool the body down again. This can occur regardless of the temperature of the environment you are in.
If you are planning on going to the gym then you should take a towel with you because you will probably need a shower when you have finished your workout. Sweat bands may also be useful in helping to keep the sweat out of our eyes.
3. More than Usual Sweat Glands
Our bodies are covered in tiny sweat glands that automatically release sweat from the body when we get too hot. They are found in a higher density on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, and most people have between two to four million sweat glands. We keep the same number of sweat glands throughout our lives.
Some people, however, will have a higher than usual number of sweat glands. This means that when they do sweat, they are likely to sweat considerably more than other people will, regardless of whether or not they are in the same environment.
4. Nervous
Most of us have been in nervy situations. It might be a serious family incident or maybe you have that big job interview to go to. It is only natural that you will feel stressed and this comes with a number of associated symptoms. One of these symptoms can include excessive perspiration.
It is very difficult to prevent yourself from feeling nervous, although people get less nervous with experience. People might also find they sweat more than usual if they are suffering from anxiety or stress. If you are feeling this way for prolonged periods then you should arrange to speak with a professional.
5. Diet
Another potential cause for excessive sweating is your diet. Perhaps the most direct way that food can cause sweating is heat. Eating a lot of hot food quickly can cause your body to heat up, and spicy foods can also cause us to perspire. Other foods can cause sweating because of the way they alter the chemistry in our body.
Acidic foods can cause us to sweat, as can food with a high sugar content. Some people might also sweat more after eating a lot of meat, while reducing your dairy intake can also help. Processed foods should also be avoided if you sweat too much because they tend to be high in both fat and salt.
6. Diabetes
High sugar levels in the blood can cause too much sweating, and people with diabetes have difficulty keeping their blood sugar levels down. Reasons for this include changes in hormone levels and sugar in the blood affecting the nerves that control our sweat glands.
Diabetes is a potentially dangerous condition and people with diabetes will need to watch their diet carefully to help prevent surges in blood sugar levels. In addition, many are also likely to need insulin injections. If somebody with diabetes is sweating too much, it is a sign that they might not be managing their conditions as well as they should be.
7. Menopause
The menopause is a time in a woman’s life where she experiences considerable changes in her hormone levels. It signals an end to womens’ reproductive days but that does not necessarily mean the end of their sexual activity. Typical symptoms of the condition include, but are not limited to, no menstruation, weight gain, flushing, a loss of moisture in the skin, and irritability.
Some women will also experience excess sweating during menopause. The symptoms vary between different people and it can be a very difficult phase for some women. Hormone replacement therapy is available that can at least help to reduce the severity of the symptoms.
8. Puberty
The vast majority of adults have gone through puberty. It is a stage in life where young people begin to develop so that they turn into adults. It usually happens when children are in their teens, and it causes various symptoms including growth spurts, developing genitals, growing breasts in girls, voice deepening in boys, mood swings, and acne.
Another common symptom of puberty is excessive sweating. This is largely down to the changes in hormone levels that are the main driving force behind the patients bodily changes. Once the patient has passed through the development stage, then hormone levels and some other symptoms will subside.
9. Secondary Hyperhidrosis
Secondary hyperhidrosis is the term given to somebody whose excessive sweating is caused by an underlying medical condition. These conditions include, but are not limited to, diabetes, as previously mentioned, and other diseases such as gout, tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and injury to the nerves.
Obesity can also be a contributing factor toward sweating too much. The best way to treat the sweating problem is usually to tackle the underlying cause where possible. In the meantime, you might also want to try tackling the sweating problem head on as well to help spare yourself any embarrassment caused by sweating too much.
10. Medication
Countless people are using different types of medication all around the world. Some of these will be used for relatively mild conditions, while others will literally be helping to save somebody’s life. The latter type is likely to be stronger than others and they are also more likely to come with a range of unwelcome symptoms.
Some drugs will cause us to sweat more than we usually would do. This is often to be expected and not necessarily something to be concerned about. If you are experiencing symptoms that you suspect are not normal then you should let your doctor know as soon as possible.
