Why Am I Sweating More Than I Used To?
If you think you have started to sweat more than usual – and it’s not just because of the weather or your training – you will probably not imagine it. Many people notice changes in the quantity they sweat as they get older.
For what? Aging, hormones, drugs, stress and underlying health problems can all change your body thermostat. Here’s how sweating models generally change over time – and when these changes report something more serious.
In the twenties and the 1930s
At the beginning of adulthood, your sweat glands are generally the most active. It is at this moment that your metabolism is always high, muscle mass is relatively abundant and that hormonal levels (especially estrogens and testosterone) are more stable. You may notice that you will sweat more during training sessions or stressful situations, but unless you have an underlying condition, your body generally regulates heat effectively.
In the forties and the fifties
It is at this point that many people – especially women – to notice changes in the way and when they sweat, explains Dr. Asmi Berry, a dermatologist based in California.
“Hormones play a huge role in regulating perspiration,” she says. “Changes of estrogen and progesterone like those during the perimenopause or menopause can disturb body temperature regulation and lead to hot flashes or night sweats.” Your thyroid levels also increase when you enter the quarantine, which can increase the basic temperature of the body and trigger more perspiration.
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Meanwhile, men can also undergo changes due to a gradual drop in testosterone, although it is generally less dramatic.
In the sixties and beyond
As you get older, your sweat glands can become less active. This may mean that you sweat less overall, but there is also a drawback. Your body can also become less effective in cooling.
“This makes the elderly vulnerable to heat-related diseases such as heat exhaustion and brain vascular accidents,” said Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, professor and dean of health affairs at the University of Northern Dakota and chief clinical advisor at Incura Health, a business of health technology focused on the well-being of women. “This reduced perspiration capacity is a normal part of aging, but it is something that we must be aware, especially in hot weather.”
Sweatful triggered
Sweating can be triggered by various factors beyond heat. “Vigorous exercise is the most obvious trigger, but anxiety and emotional distress are also major culprits,” explains Berry. “Physical pain, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks, humidity, certain drugs and infections fever can all cause increased perspiration.”
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Remember: perspiration is not a bad thing. It is a body for the body to automatically regulate the temperature. “When our body is unable to do it, it can cause a heat stroke and even cause a medical emergency,” explains Berry.
Medicines could make you sweat
Some drugs list excessive sweating – also called diaphorse – as a common side effect, either because they affect your nervous system, hormone levels, or how your body regulates the temperature.
Antidepressants, in particular selective serotonin recovering inhibitors (ISRS) such as fluoxetine (prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft), are among the most common drugs to cause sweating, explains Jenkins. “They can increase serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn affects thermoregulation and can cause excessive sweating, especially at night,” she said.
Opioid pain relievers, such as oxycodone or morphine, can also disturb the body’s ability to manage heat, triggering sweating.
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Jenkins says that other classes of drugs to be monitored include diabetes drugs (such as insulin or sulfonyls) – which can cause blood sugar, a well -known sweat – and thyroid drugs, which can speed up metabolism and make you feel warm or rinsed. Fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can induce perspiration while your body breaks a fever.
“Even certain drugs against blood pressure can trigger perspiration,” adds Jenkins. “What is particularly worrying is that the withdrawal of drugs, substances such as opiates, alcohol, nicotine or benzodiazepines, can also cause excessive sweating and must be monitored with care.”
If you suspect that your medication increases your perspiration levels, keep taking it suddenly. Speak with your health care provider. They may be able to adjust your dosage, recommend synchronization strategies or transfer yourself to a different treatment which is less likely to let you beakened
Could it be hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis, which affects around 5% of Americans, is a medical condition where the body transpires excessively, beyond what is necessary for temperature regulation. It causes the palm of the hands, the soles of the feet, the armpits or the face to be sweat, sometimes causing rashes, bacterial infections and yeast infections. Hyperhidrosis can occur without an obvious trigger – often starting in adolescence or the beginning of adulthood – and can persist for years without clear cause.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying problem such as drugs, infections, endocrine disorders or even certain cancers.
“Although hyperhidrosis is not fatal, its impact on quality of life can be deep,” explains Jenkins. “Many people experience social anxiety, isolation and distress that can prevent intimacy and lead to embarrassment from public.”
If perspiration is severe, persistent or affects your quality of life, it is important to speak to a dermatologist or your doctor. There are effective treatments ranging from topical Botox prescriptions.
