Stop Sweating

What is excessive sweating

Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is a common condition that affects up to 3% of the population. It is not a condition that poses a direct health problem, but it does create a lot of unhappiness and can cause those who suffer from it to develop social phobias. These social phobias can have a severe impact on how people live. For example, it can mean they are unwilling to get involved with family events and gradually become more isolated and cut themselves off from friends and family.

For people who suffer from a severe form of hyperhidrosis it can make everyday things difficult or stressful to perform. For example, opening a jar may be difficult when excess sweat makes it hard to grip the jar. Similarly, driving a car may become an issue as could shaking hands. There are numerous ways that severe hyperhidrosis can impact on daily life that makes it difficult for people to be happy. Things many people take for granted which often leads to developing social phobias.

Excessive sweating can also be an indicator that something else is wrong. In some cases it could indicate an infection, diabetes or thyroid problems. It is more common for people who are out of shape or overweight, but being overweight does not mean you will have the condition.

Some people naturally sweat more than others and may appear to have hyperhidrosis. This is not always the case as there are natural variations between people and how hard their bodies need to work to cool down.

Symptoms of excessive sweating

Everybody sweats at some point, but normal sweating has a reason. There are a number of symptoms of excessive sweating that can help diagnose if you suffer from this condition. After a physical workout or walking on a hot day you will produce a normal body reaction of sweating to cool down. However, if you sweat after walking up stairs or after a couple of minutes of gentle exercise then it is possible you have hyperhidrosis.

Another symptom to look out for is if you find yourself having to dry your hands before shaking hands with someone. It is a sign of palmar hyperhidrosis as it is not normal to happen every time. On the odd occasion anyone might have sweaty hands if they are extremely nervous. However, if you suffer sweaty hands every time then you are more than likely to have this condition.

The most common form of hyperhidrosis is primary focal hyperhidrosis. This means it is usually focused on a specific area of the body. This can be the armpits, groin, face or feet. Sweat is normally symmetrical and affects both sides of the body equally. If you sweat unevenly where only one side of the body is affected it is more likely to be secondary general hyperhidrosis. If this is the case, there is almost always an underlying medical condition that causes it.

If you suffer night sweats and it affects all areas of the body it is usually an indication of secondary generalized hyperhidrosis. On hot nights it is normal to sweat some, but if you suffer night sweats even on cool nights then it should be a clear indication of hyperhidrosis.

If your normal sweating changes significantly and gets worse it can indicate hyperhidrosis. Most people know their own bodies and are aware of when and why they might sweat. However, if sudden changes occur it may be put down as a one-off. It should not be ignored if other symptoms such as fatigue or insomnia accompany it. If the change is sweating is a result of a change in medication then it can be quickly assessed by a doctor.

Causes of excessive sweating

Being able to identify a specific cause of hyperhidrosis will make it easier to find a way to stop sweating excessively. The truth is that many cases of primary focal hyperhidrosis are difficult to diagnose and figure out a specific cause as there are so many potential causes. Many experts believe the main causes of this type of hyperhidrosis are either genetic or due to a minor malfunction with the sympathetic nervous system.

When it comes to finding causes for secondary generalized hyperhidrosis it is a lot easier, but also more medically important to figure out the cause. The reason it is called secondary is because there is something else that is causing the excess sweat production. This type is much less common, but you should seek medical attention to figure out the exact cause.

There are a lot of medical conditions and diseases that may cause secondary hyperhidrosis. Some of them are serious while others are easier to deal with. For example, menopause and pregnancy can be a cause for secondary hyperhidrosis.

The common causes of secondary hyperhidrosis include:

• Alcoholism
• Diabetes
• Certain types of cancers like leukemia and lymphoma
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Parkinson's disease
• Thyroid problems

In addition to the above conditions and diseases other things can contribute to the condition and make things worse. Stress, anxiety and fear may trigger excessive sweating but may not be the actual cause. Similarly, other medications may trigger or be responsible for excessive sweating. Medications for psychiatric conditions or blood pressure may cause secondary hyperhidrosis as well as some supplements or antibiotics. A doctor should be able to determine if the cause is a result of medication or not.

If you want to know how to stop sweating you really need to figure out what is causing hyperhidrosis in the first place. For some people with specific medical conditions is it easier to figure out. A doctor may be able to offer advice on the options available and whether they are temporary or permanent solutions. In most cases, any solution is temporary unless the actual cause is identified.

There are a lot of options for treating excessive sweating but it is very difficult to find one solution that suits everyone. Due to the amount of potential causes it can also be difficult to figure out how to stop sweating permanently. In most cases it comes down to figuring out the actual cause and controlling the condition so it only has a minimal impact on your quality of life.