Sweating and excessive sweating are secretions of the sweat glands in the skin. Most often, these sweats occur under the armpits, on the forehead, on the palms of the hands and feet in the genital area, chest and abdomen. However, some people also sweat very frequently on their back.
What are sweating episodes?
Unnatural sweating or sweating outbreaks are when the organism secretes more sweat than would be necessary for heat regulation. Sweating and occasional outbreaks of sweat are completely normal. They are triggered by the sweat glands of the skin, which are present everywhere on the body. The human organism has a whopping two million sweat glands, with the highest concentration located in the forehead and on the hands and feet. Sweat itself is slightly acidic and consists mainly of water. But it also contains ammonia, urea and sodium chloride (salt). Sweating and perspiration are a vital process that serves primarily to regulate the heat of the human body. When it is hot or you are moving a lot, sweat provides pleasant cooling through its moisture, so that the body does not overheat. However, excitement, fear and nervousness can also cause heavy sweating. Furthermore, sweat also protects against pathogens. Unnatural sweating or outbreaks of sweat occur when the organism secretes more sweat than would be necessary for heat regulation. However, about 3 liters of sweat per day are still normal, which can be secreted especially at night.
Causes
Sweating and heavy sweating can have a variety of causes. Non-pathological causes are, as is well known, strong physical activities (sports, work), heat, nervousness, stress, anxiety and excitement. Furthermore, overweight, sauna and too thick clothes can also cause heavy sweating. During menopause, women in particular experience increased sweating due to hormonal changes, but these sweats disappear on their own after a certain time. The best-known sweating is probably associated with fever and chills, which can occur mostly with infectious diseases. But also side effects of various drugs can cause sweating. Sometimes a personal predisposition is also the cause of heavy sweating. Below you will find a list of diseases in which sweating can occur as a symptom.
Diseases with this symptom
- Hyperhidrosis
- Coronary heart disease
- Leukemia
- Heart attack
- Tetanus
- Obesity
- Hormone fluctuations
- Anxiety disorder
- Tuberculosis
- Mushroom poisoning
- Menopause
- Angina pectoris
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pulmonary embolism
- Appendicitis
Diagnosis and course
Short-term sweats with a known cause (such as outdoor temperature or nervousness) usually do not require medical diagnosis. However, if sweating occurs over the long term, if it occurs independently of identifiable triggers, and/or if it is accompanied by pain, there may be an underlying condition. In most cases, a diagnostician then asks about a patient’s medical history and the time of the first outbreak of sweating. Further diagnostic steps are based on the suspected diagnosis – for example, the extent of sweat production can be determined with the aid of an iodine–strength test or gravimetry. The course of sweating without a known cause depends on the underlying disease – targeted therapy methods can alleviate the occurrence of sweating.
Complications
Sweating is usually a so-called psychological sweating. This is not triggered by a physical, but by a psychological effort. This includes especially stress and depression. Sweating is usually not medically serious and occurs in all people in stressful situations. However, if the sweats are very frequent and relatively severe, a doctor must be consulted. Here, a psychologist can help and treat the causes of the sweats. Treatment with one’s own means is usually not effective. Treatment with medication rarely takes place.Sweating can lead to an increased feeling of shame and thus also to social exclusion. Often, the affected people can no longer lead their daily lives in the usual way and can also no longer go to work without difficulty. Therefore, sweating can severely limit personal life and thus reduce the quality of life. The sweats do not lead to any health complication and do not affect the physical characteristics of the body. They also usually do not occur during sports activities. The removal of sweat glands is not possible on the human body in all places, so the sweating can only be limited.
When should you go to the doctor?
Sweating does not always have a disease value. A sudden sweat is usually not a cause for concern. It can occur due to stress or occur as night sweats. However, sweating may also indicate intestinal problems, latent liver disorders, or hypoglycemia in diabetics. Since sweating can occur in many contexts, the accompanying symptoms are of interest. If the affected person feels shaky, weak or sick when sweating, a visit to the doctor is advised. Most of the time, the sufferer can attribute the sweats to known causes. The affected person is in menopause, has diabetes or feels unwell after eating. As a self-treatment against sweating, Kneipp applications, sage tea as an internal application, fasting days or cold washes can be tried. Sometimes sweating is due to unsuitable clothing with synthetic fibers. In cases of severe sweating due to menopause, relief can be provided to sufferers by a gynecologist. In the case of a suspected liver disorder, a change in diet can lead to improvement. Latent liver disorders are treated by the affected person himself. More serious liver disorders should be evaluated by a physician. Sweating caused by a sudden panic or anxiety situation does not necessarily require a visit to the doctor. Some people experience a panic attack. If someone suffers from recurring panic attacks on a permanent basis, a visit to a psychologist is advisable. Here, the limitations on quality of life are too significant.
Treatment and therapy
For the most part, sweating or sweating outbreaks do not need to be treated because, on the one hand, they are of short duration or do not have pathological causes. However, if the sweating occurs very strongly and recurrently, a doctor should be consulted. Especially if the sweats occur with pain in the chest and heart area, an immediate medical examination is necessary. Unfortunately, there are still no good possibilities to find out the reasons for the heavy sweating by blood tests, so that the questioning by the doctor (anamnesis) is the most important cause finding. The doctor will ask how long the heavy sweating has already existed and under what circumstances it recurs, how often and how heavily. With a strength iodine test, the doctor can then localize the area where the sweat glands are working particularly hard. How much sweat is produced in the glands can be determined by gravimetry. These measurements can then be used to determine whether the amount of sweat is above average, i.e. pathological, or within the normal range. Once the cause has been determined, the appropriate treatment therapy is initiated. Further blood tests and ultrasound examinations can also be performed. In most cases, a good antiperspirant is sufficient for sweating. These can be purchased in stores and pharmacies as sprays, creams and powder products. Antiperspirants ensure that the sweat glands constrict and thus produce less sweat. However, deodorants and antiperspirants do not combat the cause of perspiration, but only its effect. If the cause is to be treated, the disease behind it should always be treated first. Furthermore, even in the case of heavy sweating, without the cause of the disease, there is the possibility to soothe the sweat glands by electrical applications (direct current). Other medical treatment options are: Sweat gland suction (suction curettage), blocking of the nerves (sympathectomy), removal of the sweat glands (excision) and the injection of botulinum toxin to block the nerve pathways at the sweat glands.
Outlook and prognosis
Sweats occur in many people and are usually triggered by stress or by unpleasant situations. Therefore, they are mainly short-term, but can severely limit a person’s daily life. Often, sweating is a temporary symptom. If this occurs only rarely, it does not need to be treated. Usually, the sweats disappear on their own when the stressful situation is over. However, if the sweats occur more often and reduce the quality of life, a doctor must be consulted. Treatment takes place primarily with a psychologist. There, the causes and reasons for the sweating outbreaks can be analyzed. Through therapy, the outbreaks are brought under control and their frequency is reduced. In most cases, therapy leads to success and no further complications occur. If the sweats are not treated, they sometimes lead to psychological problems and depression. The patient’s daily life is complicated and the person himself is internally tense.
Home remedies and herbs for sweating and sweating episodes
- Sitz baths with oak bark have proven effective for hemorrhoids. For a full bath, boil 1 kilogram of oak bark in a few liters of water for about 15 minutes and then add the decoction to the bath water. An oak bark bath also helps with skin diseases, poorly healing wounds, sensitive skin and tendency to heavy sweating.
- Sage and sage tea acts reduces the production of sweat in the sweat glands.
What you can do yourself
Sweating can be reduced by various measures and home remedies. Acutely it helps to dip the hands and feet in lukewarm water or rub with rubbing alcohol. Regular sauna sessions strengthen the sweat glands and thus also reduce sweat production in everyday life in the long term. Lukewarm showers and alternating showers have a similar effect on the skin. For foot sweat, foot powder applied directly between the foot and socks helps. Sweating as a result of anxiety and nervousness can be reduced by relaxing and treating the causes. For severe symptoms, antiperspirants and home remedies such as a decoction of horsetail and oak leaves applied directly to the heavily sweating areas help. Applications with tomato juice or fenugreek calm the overactive glands and thus reduce sweating. In addition, wear clothing that allows air to circulate well between the skin and the fabric. Linen and breathable functional textiles have proven their worth. In the long term, sweating can also be alleviated by losing weight, exercising regularly and changing one’s diet. Alcohol and cigarette consumption promote sweating and should be reduced, as should the consumption of spicy or salty food.
