Causes of Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a normal body process, which is controlled by sweat glands located in the skin. It plays an important role in regulating the body temperature. Sweating is more common in certain body parts such as underarms, palms and feet. Although sweating is body’s natural process, there may be excessive sweating in case of some individuals. This condition is known as hyperhidrosis. It can be defined as sweating beyond the body’s physiological requirement. Excessive sweating is categorized as primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis includes the body parts such as face, hands, feet and underarms. In case of secondary hyperhidrosis, excess sweating is seen all over the body.

Well, what are the causes of excessive sweating? In case of primary hyperhidrosis, the problem is associated with sympathetic nervous system. The exact reason of this type of hyperhidrosis is not clear. Secondary hyperhidrosis is due to certain causes. Following are some of the causes:

• Heredity: Excessive sweating is associated with the function of genes.
• Abnormal function of nerves: The sweat glands are located all over the body. In the similar way, the nerves that act as brain’s receptors are present throughout the body. Because of abnormal functions of these nerves, there may be excessive sweating due to wrong stimuli.
• Abnormal function of brain: The hypothalamus region of the brain, controls the sweating process. Due to a tainted sensory response by the brain, there may be abnormal sweating.
• Puberty and menopause: Teenagers usually tend to sweat excessively due to physiological as well as psychological changes. In case of menopause, women experience excessive sweating due to physical and hormonal changes.
• Obesity: This is one of the main causes of excessive sweating. Obese people more commonly suffer from hyperhidrosis, as their sweat glands are more active in order to excrete excess minerals.

Some other reasons for excessive sweating are hyperthyroidism, diabetes, infections, malignancy, autoimmune disorders, psychiatric disorders, abnormal functions of spinal cord, extraneous exercises and activities, reaction to certain foods such as hot and spicy foods and hot weather.