Although sometimes embarrassing, sweating is the natural response when your body wants to cool itself, such as when exercising. It can also happen due to anger, feeling scared, or nervous. However, if you experience inexplicable sweating, you have a condition called hyperhidrosis.
Some individuals primarily experience hyperhidrosis in specific areas like the feet, armpits, and hands, whereas others experience it all over the body. NY Neurology Associates can help you determine the underlying cause. Meanwhile, read on to learn about the common causes.
Medication Side Effects
You may experience hyperhidrosis as the side effect of a medication you take to address a certain health condition. This condition results in excessive sweating across the body, even when you are sleeping.
Although the list of medications known to lead to hyperhidrosis is extensive, some are more prone to causing excessive sweating, like antidepressants and beta blockers. Consult your physician about the possibility of your drugs causing extreme sweating.
Diabetic Hypoglycemia
Hyperhidrosis could be a symptom of another condition, instead of the condition itself. One health concern that causes excessive sweating is diabetic hypoglycemia. If the body generates much insulin without adequate blood sugar, this is hypoglycemia.
Diabetics might experience hypoglycemia if they consume much insulin or skip a meal. Hyperhidrosis stemming from hypoglycemia might cause one to sweat excessively at night. Other symptoms include irritability, dizziness, headache, and sometimes even seizures.
Menopause
Sudden sweating and hot flashes are telltale signs of menopause. Night sweats, which make one soak through their sheets, are also prevalent. Besides sweating excessively, women undergoing menopause may experience weight gain, mood changes, chills, and irregular periods.
Hormone therapy is often efficient at treating hot flashes, but it does bear some risks. For women who cannot undergo estrogen therapy, a reduced dosage of specific antidepressants might regulate hot flashes.
Hyperthyroidism
Excessive sweating is also common with hyperthyroidism. This condition happens once the thyroid gland generates excessive thyroxine hormones, which could raise metabolism and cause irregular, rapid, and pounding heartbeats.
Besides extreme sweating, an overactive thyroid can also result in unexplained weight loss, irritability, constant bowel movements, increased appetite, and trouble sleeping. If you identify any of these concerns, consult your doctor about possible thyroid issues.
Anxiety
In some instances, excessive sweating makes one develop anxiety. In other cases, social anxiety disorder might cause hyperhidrosis. Your specialist may suggest the right solution based on what is causing the other.
For instance, if your anxiety causes hyperhidrosis, anxiety medication can resolve the issue. Likewise, if your hyperhidrosis causes you anxiety, prescription medications, Botox, and other procedures can treat excessive sweating.
Genetics
You are more likely to experience excessive sweating if a sibling, parent, or another close relative also has the condition. While the actual cause is unclear, specialists believe that an inherited gene could cause the condition.
Your specialist can perform the necessary genetic tests to determine what could trigger your condition. Based on the underlying cause, your doctor can provide the most appropriate care plan.
Hyperhidrosis could be disruptive to your everyday life. However, this condition does not have to control your life. Do not allow the sweating to keep you from living your best life!
You cannot always hide your hyperhidrosis feet, hands, sweaty fat, and pit stains. Nonetheless, you can consult your physician and learn how to put excessive sweating behind you. There are numerous treatments you can explore, including prescription meds, Botox, and more.
