May 15, 2023
Sweating is a normal and essential bodily function that helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating. However, when sweating becomes excessive, it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing and may even interfere with your daily life. Do you find yourself wondering; why do I sweat so much? There could be several reasons why this is happening. There are many factors that can cause us to sweat, including anything from physical activity to stress and anxiety, and even hormonal changes. We’re exploring eight reasons why you may be sweating a lot.
1. Hyperhidrosis
There are two types of hyperhidrosis that cause excessive sweating and is classified as either primary focal hyperhidrosis or secondary generalized hyperhidrosis, both of which have numerous possible causes. It is estimated that 4.8 %, which is approximately 15.3 million people in the United States have hyperhidrosis - however, that number may be higher.1 Often times people that sweat excessively don’t talk about their symptoms and never tell their healthcare provider. It is recommended that you not be embarrassed to seek help to determine the most suitable treatment plan for you.
Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis
Focal Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating in the hands, underarms, face, and feet without any apparent reason and no underlying health condition (“focal” areas of the body). It often starts in childhood or adolescence and may be hereditary. Focal hyperhidrosis is believed to be caused by overactive sweat glands, but the exact cause is not well understood.2
Secondary Generalized Hyperhidrosis
Secondary hyperhidrosis refers to sweating all over the body and may include night sweats. This typically develops in adulthood and is related to a “secondary” medical condition or side effect of taking a medicine or food supplement.
2. Thyroid Issues
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles and other organs working as they should.3
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, happens when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs and puts your body’s system into overdrive causing it to work excessively.
As a result, profuse sweating can be accompanied by other symptoms such as a fatigue, irritability, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, and weakness in your muscles – especially in the upper arms and thighs.4
Hyperthyroidism usually begins slowly but in some young patients these changes can be very abrupt. If you feel like you're experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your provider. There are various tests they can use to help make the diagnosis.
3. Diabetes
The most common reasons for unusual sweating in people with diabetes are low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) or diabetes-related nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) that affects the body's ability to regulate sweating.
Hypoglycemia is a condition where the blood sugar level drops below normal. When this happens, the body releases norepinephrine and adrenaline, a hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response, causing sweating.5
Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that results in damage to the nervous system. It is a progressive disease, and symptoms get worse over time when blood sugar levels are too high for too long. This can cause damage to the normal functioning of sweat glands, leading to excessive sweating or sweating in unusual locations, such as the face or scalp.6
If you are experiencing excessive sweating or other symptoms of diabetes, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
4. Heart Conditions
Heart conditions can sometimes cause sweating, especially if they are accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, indigestion, shortness of breath or lightheadedness. This is because the heart is responsible for pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body, and if it’s not functioning properly, the body may react by sweating in an attempt to regulate its temperature.
Some heart conditions that can cause sweating include:
Arrhythmia: This is a condition where the heart beats irregularly, either too fast or too slow. It can cause sweating, as well as other symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations and fatigue.7
Coronary artery disease: This is where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. You can experience chest pain or discomfort, as well as sweating.
Heart attack: A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle. Sweating is a common symptom of a heart attack, along with chest pain, shortness of breath and nausea.8
Heart failure: This is a condition where the heart is not able to pump blood effectively. Heart failure can cause sweating, as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and swelling in the legs.9
If you experience sweating along with any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Prompt treatment can help prevent further damage to the heart and improve your chances of recovery.
5. Medications
The culprit for your excessive sweating may be the medications that you are taking. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, blood pressure medications and steroids, can cause excessive sweating as a side effect. The severity of medication related sweating can vary from mild to severe, and can occur at any time while taking the medication. Common symptoms include sweating excessively, especially at night, feeling hot and clammy and having cold sweats. If you think you may be experiencing this, it's important to talk to your doctor who can help guide you on managing these symptoms.
6. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes that occur during menstruation, perimenopause and menopause can cause sweating in women.
Menstruation: Changes in hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone, can cause hot flashes and night sweats in some women which is linked to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These episodes of sweating may be accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, mood swings and bloating. PMS symptoms can begin any time after ovulation (though they typically begin in the week before your period) and last until 5 or so days after menstruation begins.10
Perimenopause: The period leading up to menopause when hormone levels begin to fluctuate, and the ovaries start producing less estrogen. As estrogen levels fluctuate dramatically, hot flashes and night sweats become more common, leading to episodes of sweating that can be uncomfortable and disruptive to sleep. 11
Menopause: This marks the end of menstruation and is defined as the point in time when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period. During menopause, the body's production of estrogen and progesterone declines, leading to an increased likelihood of experiencing hot flashes and night sweats. These episodes of sweating may occur for several years after menopause. 12
7. Anxiety
When you get anxious or nervous, you may start to sweat. Anxiety can cause sweating as part of the body's "fight or flight" response to stress. This is because the body releases adrenaline, which can increase sweating as well as heart rate and breathing. People who live with anxiety are therefore far more likely to sweat as a direct correlation of panic attacks, PTSD triggers and general anxiety.13
Keep in mind, that getting support for anxiety can help with all symptoms, including sweating – but it never hurts to consider addressing both anxiety and sweating at the same time. If you’re not sure where to start, a healthcare professional can help you explore your options for treatment.
8. Pregnancy
Increased sweating is normal throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period. Hormonal changes, increased blood volume and weight gain all contribute to the uptick in your body’s temperature as result of growing a baby. As pregnancy progresses, the body retains more fluids, which can make pregnant women feel hotter and more prone to sweating and hot flashes. 14
Postpartum sweating is also very normal. It is one of the ways your body gets rid of the extra fluid it was carrying while you were pregnant. Additionally, night sweats due to postpartum hormonal shifts can occur while your body gets back in balance after your baby is born.
While sweating during pregnancy and postpartum is a common symptom and not usually a cause for concern, it's important to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes to prevent dehydration and overheating. Read more on how to stay hydrated here. Wearing breathable clothing, using a fan, staying in air-conditioned environments and taking cool showers can help alleviate the discomfort caused by excessive sweating.
Overall, sweating is a natural and essential bodily process that helps keep us cool, healthy and functioning properly. Understanding how it works and what factors can affect it can help us better manage our physical and emotional well-being. As mentioned before, if you are experiencing excessive sweating, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
References
1 Doolittle, James & Walker, Patricia & Mills, Thomas & Thurston, Jane. Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States. Accessed March 22. 2023.
2 Mayo Clinic: Hyperhidrosis. Last updated September 16, 2022. Accessed March 10.
3 American Thyroid Association: Hyperthyroidism. Accessed March 22. 2023.
4 PennMedicine: 6 Signs That You Need to Have Your Thyroid Checked. Last updated March 7, 2022. Accessed March 10, 2023.
5 ADW Diabetes: 5 Reasons For Heavy Sweating With Diabetes. Last updated May 15th, 2018. Accessed Match 10, 2023.
6 Mayo Clinic: Diabetic Neuropathy. Accessed March 10, 2023.
7 American Heart Association. Arrhythmia. Accessed March 13, 2023.
8 American Heart Association. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women. Accessed March 13, 2023.
9 Mayo Clinic: Heart Failure. Accessed March 13, 2023.
10 Healthline: PMS: Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms. Updated January 28, 2022. Accessed March 10, 2023.
11 Mayo Clinic: Menopause. Accessed March 10, 2023.
12 Mayo Clinic: Perimenopause. Accessed March 10, 2023.
13 PSYCOM: Can Anxiety Cause Sweating? Last updated August 31, 2022. Accessed March 10, 2023
14 VeryWell: Excessive Sweating and Night Sweats in Pregnancy. Last updated February 16, 2023. Accessed March 10, 2023