Sweating
is vital and bothersome at the same time. The latter
especially when the sweat flows on even the smallest occasion and with little
effort. How much body fluid people produce is highly individual. Even
several liters a day can be normal if there is a reason for it - such as
exercise, fever or heat in
summer. But there are also pathological disorders of sweat
production. That is why experts differentiate “normal”, physiological
sweating from pathological, pathological sweating.
There can
be various triggers behind profuse, pathological sweating. In most cases,
one of these phenomena is hidden behind the sweats:
- Infections: Heavy sweating is a
typical side effect of colds , flu or malaria. By
increasing the body temperature, the immune system fights pathogens such
as bacteria or viruses. With chronic infectious diseases such
as AIDS or tuberculosis, those
affected often sweat more intensely.
- Hormonal changes: the body often reacts
to fluctuations in the hormonal balance with sweating. This is a
common symptom, especially during menopause, pregnant women, and people
with a diseased thyroid.
- Overweight : Those who fight with
significantly too many pounds often tend to increase sweat
production. Mainly because the body itself is stressed more during
everyday activities than with people of normal weight.
- Diabetes : Sweating is a typical
warning sign of hypoglycaemia in diabetics.
- Heart diseases: Many
diseases of the heart, whether congenital or developed in the course of
life, can lead to sudden outbreaks of sweating. Mainly because a sick
heart reaches its limits even with low stress.
- Shock and unconsciousness: People in shock often
break out in a cold sweat - palpable on the cool skin. A shock can be
accompanied by unconsciousness, which can be heralded by a break in a
sweat, among other things.
- Neurological diseases: Even in the early stages
of Parkinson's disease, sweating often
occurs. The disturbed heat regulation is particularly noticeable at
night when sleeping.
- Cancer: Straight leukemia and lymphoma, are often accompanied
by heavy sweating, especially at night.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Sweating is one of the
typical symptoms when the body breaks down alcohol. Even when drug or
pill addicts are withdrawn, seizure-like sweats can occur, even during
sleep.
Sweating: When no cause can be
identified
Profuse
sweating puts a strain on those affected. For example, you are afraid of
sweat stains on your blouse or find it embarrassing to shake hands with
others. Anyone who sweats a lot does not automatically have hyperhidrosis , i.e. a pathologically increased sweat
secretion. The disease is not defined on the basis of the amount of sweat, but on whether
there is actually a malfunction of the body behind the outbreaks of
sweat. Only then is profuse sweating pathological. But not all
hyperhidrosis is the same either. The disease itself is divided into two
forms by doctors.
- Sweating without a cause: In primary
hyperhidrosis, the doctor can find no cause or underlying disease for the
sweats. For unexplained reasons, the body produces more sweat than is
necessary. About 3 percent of the population suffer from this form of
pathological sweating. The increased production of sweat has no
specific cause, but mostly there are triggers that initiate sweating: for
example excitement or emotional tension. Such triggers can also be
missing. Primary hyperhidrosis usually occurs for the first time at
the onset of puberty and then lasts for a lifetime. Doctors have
found that this form of pathological sweating is at least partially
hereditary.
- Sweating with a cause: In secondary
hyperhidrosis, abnormal sweating becomes a symptom of an illness. The
possible underlying diseases and causes are numerous: for example an
infection like the flu, or a hormonal change, for example during
menopause. For other triggers for secondary hyperhidrosis, see
"Sweating: Possible Causes".
Sweating: the diagnosis
Anyone who suffers from sweating and profuse
sweating does not have to call the doctor right away. Especially not if
the problem only occurs for a short time and the cause is obvious, such as a
cold.
Sweating: therapy
Treatment
for profuse sweating depends on whether you have primary or secondary
hyperhidrosis. In the case of the latter - i.e. when sweating is only a symptom
of an illness - the health problem at hand, such as
obesity or the infection, is treated, but not the sweating itself. The
disturbed sweating regulates itself as soon as the cause disappears. If
the therapy is not sufficiently successful or if the doctor determines primary
hyperhidrosis, there are many other treatment options - from conservative to
surgical.
Treat sweating yourself
There
are some great tips that people can use to manage profuse sweating. Not
all of these home remedies start with the production of sweat itself. Some
also help negative
side effects such as unpleasant odors curb . A
note in advance: Do not limit your drinking for fear of breaking out in a
sweat. It is important to drink enough fluids, especially if you sweat
excessively. The amount of sweat released does not depend on how much you
have drunk anyway.
- Correct clothing: Loose clothes prevent
unpleasant sweat odors. Avoid synthetic fibers, which increase body
odor. Better to choose shirts made from natural fibers such as
cotton. The material also matter when it comes to shoes. Leather
shoes and leather soles are better suited than plastic ones. In
summer it is best to wear airy sandals and walk barefoot as often as
possible, this also prevents sweaty feet.
- Proper personal hygiene: Many
sufferers feel the need to shower more than once a day. In order to
protect the skin, pH-neutral soaps and shampoos should always be
used. If you sweat heavily under the arms, it makes sense to shave
your armpits: Without hair, it is more difficult for bacteria to multiply,
which prevents odor formation. Deodorant sprays and rollers with
antibacterial additives also help. The manufacturers often rely on
aluminum salts to inhibit the formation of bacteria. These active
ingredients are often found in over-the-counter deodorants in a
concentration of around 1 to 2 percent. In pharmaceuticals, the
concentration of aluminum chloride can increase to 15 to 25
percent. This effectively prevents unpleasant odors, but the
deodorants can cause skin irritation.
- Essential oils: Lemon
or rose oils are a tried and tested home remedy for sweating. For
example, they can be added to the bath water as an additive. Sage is
also known for its antiperspirant properties. Drink a cup of sage tea
two to three times a day or ask the pharmacy for advice on herbal sage
preparations. Oils from spruce, pine, lemongrass or tea tree oil are
often used as foot balm, which prevent sweaty feet.
- Relaxation: Stress and strong emotional stress
trigger sweating. In such cases, herbal remedies, for example in the
form of tea, drops or tablets, can help. The medicinal plants valerian,
lavender, chamomile or lemon balm have proven themselves as anti-stress
plants. Relaxation technique such as autogenic training can also have
a calming effect and thus prevent or even avoid profuse sweating.
- Proven home remedies: This
tip sounds strange at first: Work up a sweat on a regular
basis! Anyone who gets their sports jersey wet at least once a week
or goes to the sauna trains the normal function of their sweat
glands. Another home remedy: Kneipp affusions for arms and legs or alternating
cold and warm showers. Talk to your family doctor beforehand,
because these tips are not recommended if you are very
overweight or have heart failure .
