In most cases, heavy sweating can be from stress but it could also mean other conditions such as hyperhidrosis, hypothyroidism, cancer, diabetes or obesity.

Sweating is a completely natural body function that happens to everybody but few; however, heavy sweating can become extremely distressing and make a fuss of a person’s life. This process, called hyperhidrosis can come from stress to possible symptoms of other conditions such as cancer or diabetes.

In most cases, heavy sweating can be from stress but it could also mean other conditions such as hyperhidrosis, hypothyroidism, cancer, diabetes or obesity.

Excessive sweating can vary between a moderate or severe secretion, resulting in large wet spots on clothes, wet and smelly feet and shoes or sticky wet hands.

The Common Process of Sweating

Sweating is a normal body function that happens to everyone in hot weather or in the course of physical activity. Through the sweat glands, a salty and transparent liquid is produced to fulfill the vital physical function of cooling our bodies.

Additionally, sweating may occur when one is nervous or is under stress or nervousness. This kind of sweat is called apocrine sweat; a small amount of sweat with a different composition. It is rich in proteins and lipids, and when metabolized by bacteria, releases an unwanted body odor.

The situation where the body will produce and release greater amounts of moisture, even in circumstances where sweating would not usually appear, is called hyperhidrosis.

Five Causes Of Heavy Sweating That Indicate Problems In Your Body

Specialists have a way of determining if intense sweating is due to stress or has another nature. Here are five of a large number of medical conditions that produce heavy sweating:

Hyperhidrosis: This condition is manifested by the large amount of sweat on hands, face, back, and armpits, especially if the person goes through physical activities. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat excessively as their sweat glands are hyperactive.

Hyperthyroidism: This is when the thyroid gland works too much, resulting in excessive or heavy sweating.

Cancer: Cancer can produce elusive symptoms and one of them can be excessive sweating.

Diabetes: This condition can cause sweating when sugar drops.

Infection: External factors such as infection or pneumonia cause the body to generate heat, which might cause heavy sweating.

The Significance Of Intense Sweating

There is no established way to define excessive sweating in terms of “sweat amounts.” However, if sweating interferes with daily life and normal activities, it can be termed heavy sweating (hyperhidrosis).

It is likely to be hyperhidrosis when excessive sweating occurs for more than six months and appears predominantly in the armpits, palms, soles of the feet or in craniofacial areas.

Thyroid Dysfunctions

If you do not have adequate concentrations of thyroid hormones, your body will not function as it should. In order for our body to function properly, it is very important to have the right concentrations of hormones. When these are not adequate, thyroid dysfunction may occur.

If the thyroid gland is underactive, it does not produce enough amounts of thyroid hormones and metabolic processes are slower; so the body slows down (hypothyroidism). Hypothyroidism is the most frequent disease of the thyroid gland.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• weakness,
• muscle cramps,
• tiredness,
• drowsiness,
• psychomotor retardation,
• decreased memory,
• poor concentration,
• forgetfulness,
• moodiness,
• irritability,
• deafness,
• depression,
• weight gain due to fluid retention,
• infertility,
• constipation,
• dysphonia,
• nervousness,
• alterations in menstrual cycles,
• abundant periods,
• decreased heartbeat frequency,
• cold intolerance,
• cold, dry and rough skin, often with yellowish appearance due to the accumulation of carotenes,
• intense sweating
• dry hair,
• fall of hair,
• swelling of the eyelids and face,
• hoarseness and persistent cough or pharyngitis

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Thyroid Diseases

The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases should be carried out with experienced multidisciplinary professionals:

• Clinicians (endocrines),
• sonographers,
• cytologists to perform punctures and
• a surgeon is essential to obtain the best results.

Coping With The Symptoms Of Heavy Sweating

Frequent showers or changing clothes during the same day is not just strenuous, but frustrating. The idea of taking off the jacket or the feeling of being unwanted at the time of having to shake hands can lead to social distress.

The affected person may want to abstain from continuing their sports activities, and that can interfere with healthy practices like exercise.

Business or working life may also suffer since using tools or using a keyboard can be difficult with excessive sweating in the hands. On the long run, this may result in the social abandonment of the affected people.

Research has shown that in cases of primary or focal hyperhidrosis, the part of the brain that regulates the sweating process will emit signals to the eccrine glands, even in the absence of a real need to cool the body.

This dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system will cause the stimulation of sweat production without any apparent cause and will produce unpleasant effects on the affected people.

Treatment Options for Heavy Sweating

Among the dermatological treatment options, the following stand out:

Botulinum toxin type A:

It is useful especially for people affected by axillary hyperhidrosis and is considered one of the best-studied treatments today. Injections of this neurotoxic substance contribute to inhibit severe underarm sweating. Also, the transmission of signals to the eccrine sweat glands through the nerves is blocked and sweating is subdued.

Iontophoresis (electrical treatment):

This method introduces ions into the skin through an electric current, which act on the sweat glands, disconnecting it temporarily.

Anticholinergic drugs:

This is a systemic treatment that blocks certain neurotransmitters, helping to prevent the stimulation of the sweat glands. However, these drugs have been used predominantly for the treatment of secondary hyperhidrosis and produce serious side effects.

Final Thought

The symptoms of intense sweating may improve through lifestyle changes such as the following:

• Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee
• Do not expose yourself to the sun
• Dress clothes with natural fibers such as cotton
• Choose light or very dark clothes in order to hide the signs of sweating
• Protective armpit liners are also an option to explore as it will additionally absorb sweat and protect clothing

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