Sweating is a normal bodily function, but for some people, it can be an embarrassing or traumatic experience. They find themselves perspiring so much that they have to change clothes several times a day; they sweat even when the weather is cool and even when they aren’t doing anything strenuous. A number of these people do not realize they are suffering from a disorder called hyperhidrosis, or that the condition can be treated.
Sweat is produced by the body’s apocrine and eccrine glands, but the fluids they secrete are different from each other. Perspiration from your eccrine glands is normally odourless, while sweat from the apocrine glands can have an unpleasant aroma since its components are broken down by bacteria. The latter type of sweat is usually found in parts of your torso, scalp, face, and most actively, under your armpits.
Excessive sweating affects approximately eight million people in the United States alone, and there are various factors that can lead to the disorder. Here are some of them:
Of all these factors, stress is the most common, resulting in what health experts call emotional hyperhidrosis. What so many people find problematic about it is, by worrying about how much they are sweating, they sweat even more! It’s no wonder then that a lot of individuals with this disorder suffer from low self-esteem and self-confidence. The psychological effects can escalate to a degree where a person finds himself or herself avoiding face-to-face contact with other people because of feelings of extreme embarrassment.
It isn’t just social interactions that are affected by excessive sweating; job prospects can take a hit, too. A person in whom the sweating disorder manifests itself the most in the hands, for example, would probably rule out a career as a chef, since handling knives or other sharp objects in the kitchen would pose a higher-than-usual injury risk.
One study suggests that individuals suffering from sweating disorders experience workplace limitations to a great extent physically and mentally. It affects their mental and interpersonal tasks at work, their time management efficiency, and their work output.
It’s best to consult your doctor if you suffer from hyperactive sweat glands. Among the factors your doctor might consider are your sex, age, and medical history. You might also have to undergo a blood test or a urinalysis.
Treatment depends on the outcome of the diagnosis. It’s possible that your physician will prescribe anticholinergic medicines, since they promote dryness. In especially severe cases, surgery might be considered. This can involve removal of the sweat glands, or severing certain nerves in areas where sweat glands are located.
Hyperhidrosis doesn’t have to be a problem of epic proportions. By acknowledging the condition and by getting help from the right sources, you can minimize its impact on the quality of your life.
There is a natural treatment that is so effective that it works in as little as 14 days. This treatment is outlined in the downloadable ebook, "Stop Sweating & Start Living". You can learn more about this powerful and all-natural treatment here.