Obviously with glorious sunshine comes sweating – aka perspiration. Sweating is basically our body’s built-in cooling system and occurs when the temperature rises. Heat activates the sweat glands within our skin, which then release fluids (sweat). After this evaporates, your body will have cooled-down and a more comfortable internal temperature is restored.
However, excessive and seemingly unnecessary sweating – especially when it is not a particularly hot day – can raise a red flag for certain health problems and is something that should not be casually ignored.
Here are some of the factors that could be causing excessive sweating:
Hypoglycaemia
This is when the blood has a usually low level of sugar (glucose) in the blood – dropping below about 4 millimoles per litre (mmol). Although often a condition mainly associated with diabetes, non-diabetics may experience an imbalance in sugar levels after delaying or missing meals, in addition to fasting, or exercising on an insufficient food intake. If the brain does not receive enough glucose then symptoms of hypoglycaemia can begin, which include: headache, migraine, nausea, sweating, confusion, faintness, and hypothermia. A prolonged glucose tolerance test can be carried out to find out if you are hypoglycaemic; this measures your body’s ability to process sugar.
Medication
If you are taking medication and also experience excessive sweating, the two may actually be linked. One of the most common culprits in this regards is antidepressants as they can raise levels of stress hormones such as noradrenaline, resulting in more perspiration – commonly at night. Other medications known to cause sweating are iron tablets, antibiotics, blood pressure medications and cold and flu remedies containing pseudo-ephedrine. An often overlooked drug also responsible for increased sweating is nicotine. When you smoke, the nicotine you inhale causes the body to emit a chemical called acetylcholine, which stimulates your sweat glands.
Thyroid problems
Persistent sweating could be an indicator you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This basically means your thyroid gland is generating too much thyroid hormone. This increases the rate of the body’s metabolism, resulting in symptoms such as tremors (shaking), weight loss, feeling tired, muscle weakness, thinning of hair and anxiety. In addition, when too much thyroid hormone is produced, the sweat glands are stimulated and more sweat is emitted than usual.
Pregnancy and menopause
Women have to deal with a multitude of sweating episodes whilst still in their reproductive period. Pregnant women may feel extra-hot due to a rise in hormone levels, blood flow and metabolism.
During the menopause, women’s oestrogen levels decrease which impacts the body’s internal temperature gauge. Sweating however combats these hot flushes. On the plus side, pregnancy sweat is likely to be odourless and women can alleviate the problem to some degree by wearing light, breathable fabrics, remain cool by having a refreshing shower or bath, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
So how much is ‘too much’ with regards to sweat? Well, it can differ from person-to-person, and can depend on the type of activities a person is generally involved in. For example, a highly active individual such as a labourer or gym enthusiast would be expected to sweat large amounts. Whereas office workers in a climate-controlled building would usually be expected to sweat very little and for somebody who sweats whilst remaining sat calmly at their desk could be deemed to be have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
As many people have varying ‘sweat needs’, doctors sometimes have difficulty in determining what constitutes as ‘too much sweating’. However, if you believe you are sweating far too much than you should be, Medical Specialists Pharmacy advise you speak to your doctor in case there is an underlying heath condition behind the problem.
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