Cure And Treatment Information Center

Sweating is a natural bodily function to regulate body temperature. It happens to everyone, but there are people who sweat too much. They sweat so much, it becomes embarrassing and a deterrent to their social functions and daily tasks.

Imagine driving with a sweaty palm. Not just a normally sweaty palm but it is so sweaty you cannot grip the steering wheel properly. How about going on a date with a wet patch on your shirt on your underarm area?

Greeting a business contact with wet hands? Having to bring extra shirts or tops to change into during the day? How about needing a few showers within a day because you sweat so much you begin to smell bad. Sweating is natural, but when there is too much of it, it just makes one wonder if it is still natural.
People who sweat excessively, or those who experience hyperhidrosis, wonder time and again what causes their predicament.

There are different types of hyperhidrosis and what causes them. There is primary hyperhidrosis, which starts on or before adolescence. Then there is secondary hyperhidrosis, which can occur at any age. Both types of hyperhidrosis are classified into several more types, based on their area of effect, which are: palmar hyperhidrosis (hands and arms, axillary hyperhidrosis (underarms), facial hyperhidrosis (face), and plantar hyperhidrosis (feet).

Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, may be caused by a thyroid or pituitary gland disorder. Other causes are as follows:

Gout – also known as metabolic arthritis. It is caused by too much uric acid in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – a disorder characterized by metabolic disorder and hyperglycemia.

Menopause – natural permanent absence of menstruation.

Tumors – unnatural swelling/enlargement of the flesh.

Drugs – Some drugs have side effects that cause excessive sweating.

Mercury poisoning – a disorder caused by being exposed to mercury or its toxic compounds.

Primary hyperhidrosis has no definite cause, though it is speculated to be genetic. There is also a theory that it is caused by hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (becomes more active during stressful situations), but this increase in activity may be caused by abnormal brain functions.

Anxiety is a common cause for many people who suffer from hyperhidrosis. Normally, a person starts to sweat when nervous. For those who sweat excessively and are aware of it, they get even more nervous because they start to sweat, and they sweat more because they get more nervous.

What a person eats can also cause excessive sweating. Spicy food is one example. Nicotine and caffeine intake also cause hyperhidrosis.
Whatever the reasons are for excessive sweating, it is undeniable that it has negative effects on those who suffer from it.

Personal relationships and simple tasks are affected. A person’s self-perception also takes a beating, and self-esteem is on an all-time low. If you are one of the many people (Yes, you’re not the only one!) who experience this condition, the best advice for you is to consult a doctor to treat your hyperhidrosis.