Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating affects almost 5% of the entire world. Otherwise known as hyperhidrosis, it’s a condition that causes overactive sweat glands. Sweating is a very natural response; it’s the body’s natural air conditioning system. While you don’t want to mess with normal sweating (yes, even in the summer!), you do want to keep an eye out for any sweating that’s more excessive than normal. 

Some people excessively sweat when they’re stressed, working out, or sleeping. 

What Causes Excessive Sweating?

Excessive sweating is usually caused by an imbalance in other systems in the body. Since the sweat glands essentially cool down the rest of the body through sweat, any part of it that’s overheated can cause overactive sweat glands. 

Some excessive sweating (like when you have a cold, the flu, or fever) is normal; it’s when you start sweating too much all the time that things get dangerous.

Excessive sweating is often caused by:

• AIDs
• Alcohol abuse 
• Antidepressants
• Anxiety
• Common cold
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Endocarditis 
• Fever
• Heart attack
• Heat exhaustion
• HIV
• Hormonal imbalance
• Infection
• Medication side effects
• Menopause hot flashes
• Perimenopause
• Post-menopause
• Thyroid problems

What’s Considered Normal?

Sweating becomes excessive when it’s happening at times that aren’t normal (at night, if your heart rate isn’t high, temperatures under 70 degrees). Essentially, if you’re sweating when you’re not exercising, in a cool climate, or asleep, you should probably see a doctor.

How Do I Stop Sweating So Much?

If you’re concerned that you have hyperhidrosis, you should contact an online doctor. You should never simply turn to an over-the-counter deodorant to prevent sweating, as many of these products cure the symptoms and not the causes. 

Some of these products even claim to stop sweating but instead just clog the sweat ducts — preventing even a healthy amount of sweat.

If you’re worried about excessive sweating, your doctor may recommend getting your hormone levels tested, checking your stress levels, and changing your eating habits. As long as there isn’t anything medically wrong with your body, simple lifestyle changes may do the trick. Some of the most common lifestyle changes include:

• Getting more sleep
• Lowering stress through mindfulness health apps
• Drinking more water
• Adding more veggies and fruit to your diet
• Reducing sodium intake levels
• Cutting down alcoholic beverage consumption
• Taking supplements

Medical Treatments for Excessive Sweating

Again, since excessive sweating is caused by a huge variety of conditions throughout the body, the treatments for this health issue vary. If you’re sweating too much because you’re suffering from diabetes, your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication and possibly encourage dietary changes. If you’re excessively sweating because you’re entering menopause, your doctor might recommend a hormone at-home test kit. 

The most common medical treatments for excessive sweating include:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Botox injections
• Hormone treatments
• Nerve-blocking medication
• Prescription creams
• Prescription deodorant

Excessive sweating isn’t something you need to worry about. Most excessive sweating is simply a symptom of another condition (which may or may not be serious). Make an appointment with a digital clinic to find out how to keep your sweat glands under control.