Why You Sweat Excessively and Ways to Control It

After a long run, a swimming meet, or an extreme workout session, most people end up drenched in perspiration. While no one wants that look or unpleasant odor, in most cases, having the ability to sweat heavily under these circumstances is actually a good thing. However, if you produce an abundance of sweat just from sitting, you may have the medical condition known as hyperhidrosis.

Over sweating

Hyperhidrosis

You may ask yourself: So why do I sweat so much? Hyperhidrosis affects a very small percentage of the population, less than five percent. Unfortunately, if you have this condition you tend to avoid social get-togethers and public speaking. In addition, many people who live with it often shut themselves off from others, or at the very least bulk up in clothing to hide the embarrassing underarm stains, even in the summer months. The good news is that hyperhidrosis is usually not anything more than the inability of your sweat gland to stop working. Because of this, your body will produce sweat basically whenever. It’s that unpredictable.

What Can Bring on Sweat?

Before jumping the gun and assuming that you have hyperhidrosis, contact your doctor and have tests done to make the final determination. The reason for this is simple, people react differently to situations they end up in. Anxiety and medications along with heat exhaustion, hyperthyroidism, low blood sugar and even a heart attack can all cause you to over sweat, especially if it’s something that you are just now experiencing. The best way to handle it is to make sure that it’s not something far more serious, first.

Treatment Options for Over Sweating

On a bright note, there are treatment options available ranging from a clinical strength antiperspirant to surgery. The most invasive treatment is to try several clinical strength antiperspirants. Many people who have the condition hyperhidrosis sweat not only under the arms but on the face, hands, soles of their feet and even their back. While you habitually apply an antiperspirant to the underarms only, you can use it in all of the other locations as needed.

If this method proves to be unsuccessful, your doctor may try prescription medications, known as blockers to stop nerves from communicating to each other or antidepressants to lift your spirits and help reduce your nervousness and anxiousness. As a last resort, if all else fails to produce positive results, and most of your sweating is local to underneath your arms, your physician may opt for surgery to remove the sweat glands in their entirety.

Other Ways to Handle Excessive Sweating

Sweating at literally the drop of a hat can sometimes make your life miserable and take a toll on your health and well-being. Knowing what triggers bouts of excessive sweat, such as anxiety, depression and of course extreme temperatures, can help you prepare ahead of time. In addition, going to therapy to release your bottled up frustrations is also a step in the right direction. If you prefer not to have surgery or take daily medications that may have a long list of possible side effects, taking yoga to put the mind and the body on the same page and going to a massage therapist once a once can do a lot for you to keep you feeling good.

Excessive sweating is not uncommon if it occurs during physical activities or in extremely hot temperatures. It’s actually your body’s natural way to regulate the internal temperature and beneficial in many ways. However, if you sweat in situations involving cooler temperatures and little to no physical activity, then you may have hyperhidrosis or a more serious medical condition. If you suspect that something is not right, check with your doctor and have testing done to either confirm or deny it.