Sweating is normal for everyone when it is hot out there or is involved in extreme physical activity. However, some people experience excessive sweating even when it is not hot, and moisture tends to drip from their hands uncontrollably. When this happens, it is not just sweating anymore, but a condition is commonly known as hyperhidrosis. When you have hyperhidrosis, it means that the nerves that trigger sweat glands in your body have become overactive, causing excessive sweating.
Some of the symptoms of hyperhidrosis include clammy palms, frequent sweating, soaked clothes, or damp feet soles. But what are the causes of excessive sweating? Find out the answers below:
1. Psychiatric issues
While it is normal to be anxious sometimes, especially under pressure, too much anxiety can affect your day to day life. It can be challenging to control it, and one of the symptoms of extreme fear or stress is excessive sweating. When you are stressed, your body temperature rises and hence, sweating. Unfortunately, the more you sweat, the more you become more anxious and uncomfortable, leading to further sweating. Also, some psychiatric drugs or withdrawal from illegal substances can lead to excessive sweating. You will need to treat the anxiety issues to overcome this form of sweating.
2. Menopause
Most women who are experiencing menopause tend to complain of hot flushes, especially at night. These hot flushes are usually accompanied by excessive sweating. Sometimes the flushes are quite frequent and severe that it may require some of these women to change their clothes frequently. According to some doctors, this excessive sweating may be caused by the reduced level of estrogen in the body. Luckily for you, menopause symptoms can be treated through herbal medications or hormone replacement therapies.
3. Hyperthyroidism
When there are too many thyroid hormones flowing in the body, you have a condition known as hyperthyroidism. It speeds up most chemical processes in the body, which in turn leads to excessive sweating. Some of the main symptoms of hyperthyroidism are fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, chills, weight gain, and of course, extreme sweating. The main treatments for the condition include medication, iodine radiation, or even surgery in severe cases.
4. Some types of cancer
When suffering from some types of cancer, it is possible to experience excessive sweating. Some of these include leukemia, lymphoma, mesothelioma, carcinoid tumors, and liver cancer. While the connection between sweating and cancer is not yet known, many doctors believe that it occurs when your body is trying to fight the cancer cells in your body. The best way to overcome this sweating among other symptoms is through continuous treatment for specific cancer you are suffering from. If you can control or treat cancer, then you can be free from the excessive sweating as well.
Sweating, on its own, is not a dangerous problem until it is coupled with another medical problem. However, despite this fact, it can also be quite uncomfortable to have soaked clothes and hands all the time. Some people might end up suffering from social disorders, whereby they want to stay alone all the time. The good thing is that most symptoms of hyperhidrosis can be treated together with any other underlying condition in your body. However, before you start treating excessive sweating, it is always good to first visit your doctor for proper diagnosis and informed treatment.
