Hyperhidrosis: Fighting the Good Fight
Sweating is a process that protects our bodies from overheating and while many think it is a disgusting thing, if your body does not sweat you will die. It is the bodys way of cooling itself and protecting you.
Sweat glands are located all over your body, including your feet, hands, forehead and under arms, with approximately 2 to 5 million sweat or eccrine glands. Because of frequently embarassing sweat stains under your arms many people believe that the most sweat glands are under your arms but that is just not the case. It only appears that you sweat more under your arms because the sweat is unable to evaporate as quickly from this location. Because it does not evaporate as quickly is also the reason that you seem to get excessive odor from this area. Why do I sweat so much is often asked by people who seem to suffer from excessive sweating, which is also called Hyperhidrosis.
There are a number of things around us that can cause hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. As your body reacts to external temperature changes caused by the weather, clothing or exercise your body begins to sweat in response to the heat. But sweating can also be caused by medications, physical conditions and in response to extreme emotional situations. However, excessive sweating can also be caused by a number of different legitimate medical conditions.
When excessive sweating occurs it is often is response to physical condition or as a symptom of some other medical condition. People suffering from stokes, diabetes, pregnancy, alcoholism, thyroid conditions, menopause and cancer are often subject to severe bouts of hyperhidrosis. Medications and vitamin supplements may also trigger excessive sweating in many people. If you are taking antidepressants, medicines for dryness of the mouth as well as some mineral supplements, like zinc, you could also have excessive sweating occur.
Most often sweating is just a normal function of the body and does not indicate an underlying problem. But since there are conditions which cause hyperhidrosis, if you feel that your excessive sweating is coming from some other source you should consult a physician for follow up and evaluation. However, most often the recommended treatment in the early stages is a stronger antiperspirant and to wear loose clothing that allows air to reach your body.
Why do I sweat so much, is often asked by teenagers as they begin to enter adulthood. This is in response to changes in their bodies and emotional states. Treatments that are most often recommended in the early stages of excessive sweating lean toward the more natural such as changing clothes and personal products more often. However, if the hyperhidrosis continues for extended lengths of time it is important to make sure there is not an underlying medical condition that requires treatment and only your physician can help you with determine the cause.
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