In medicine, there is such a thing as hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. This phenomenon can be both an independent pathology and a symptom of any disease. Hyperhidrosis is a common symptom of diabetes, thyroid problems, or an infection. How to understand when sweating becomes abnormal, and in what cases it is necessary to deal with it?

Sweating is a natural process and a normal reaction of the body to protect it from overheating. The amount of sweat released directly depends on what a person is doing or what temperature conditions they are in, because at noon in the desert and in the evening in the Arctic it is impossible to sweat equally. Absolutely normal, natural increase in sweating is caused by the following reasons:

• high air temperature, unusual for the body;
• physical activity, such as playing sports or hard work;
• a state of excitement, stress, nervous tension, fear.

At the same time, excessive sweating can be an individual feature of a person, which causes some discomfort and does not have the best effect on the psychological state, since it reduces the quality of life.

But with the help of modern means of care and hygiene, it is quite possible to cope with this problem. Today, there are many strong deodorants - antiperspirants, locking sweat "to the castle." Much more dangerous if sweating is caused by a disease, in this case it is necessary to look for the cause of hyperhidrosis and treat the underlying disease first.

Signs of hyperhidrosis

When can increased sweating be considered abnormal? Doctors advise you to think about treatment if you sweat a lot, regardless of weather conditions, physical activity or psychological state. At the same time, sweat is released so abundantly that no deodorants and other hygiene products help, and you have to wash and change clothes several times a day. Another cause for concern is the unpleasant, pungent smell of sweat, which forces the people around you to avoid communication or stay away from you.

Excessive sweating, from the point of view of physicians, is of two types: local and generalized.

Local pathology, that is, limited to certain areas of the body, is usually “prescribed” in the following areas:

• palms, feet, ;
• face, area above the upper lip;
• groin area;
• bends of the legs and arms.

It is believed that the local form of excessive sweating affects from 1% to 3% of the population and the first manifestations of the disease occur as early as adolescence. Experts do not consider this condition a sign of a serious illness. In most cases, the local form of excessive sweating is associated with minor disorders in the nervous system or hereditary predisposition.

A generalized type of hyperhidrosis from the point of view of medicine is a manifestation of pathology. In this case, profuse sweating is noted throughout the body, which is associated with a number of diseases. Therefore, when such a symptom appears, it is necessary to undergo a complete medical examination.

Excessive sweating does not need correction or treatment in the following cases:

1. in adolescence, during puberty;
2. during pregnancy;
3. during menopause and the corresponding restructuring of the body;
4. when the climate zone changes to a hotter one.

Also, doctors do not consider it justified the treatment of pathology in cases of the presence of such diseases or impaired functioning of the body, such as:

• somatic;
• endocrine;
• neurological;
• hormonal;
• metabolic disorders;
• narcological.

In these cases, as in a number of others, hyperhidrosis is only a symptom, that is, a consequence of some disease in the body, respectively, the disease itself should be treated, and not its manifestation.

Increased sweating at night

When a person sleeps, all processes in his body slow down, so excessive sweating during sleep is an anomaly, in the event of which you need to consult a doctor. Of course, provided that the appearance of sweat is not due to such reasons as an excessively hot room, an overly warm blanket or nightmares. Excessive sweating at night can indicate the presence of a number of serious diseases, for example:

• beginning flu or SARS;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis of any kind;
• vegetative-vascular diseases;
• various malignant tumors, tumors, including cancer;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• thyroid disease;
• immune or hormonal disorders;
• fungal infections;
• all types of hepatitis;
• HIV or AIDS.

This is an incomplete list of those ailments that may be indicated by profuse sweating during sleep. Travelers and tourists who have returned from trips to tropical countries (especially to Asia or Africa) should be especially attentive to such a symptom. In this case, night sweats may be the first sign of infection with an exotic virus.

Reasons for excessive sweating

Excessive sweating in certain areas often runs in families and is inherited. Local, that is, local, hyperhidrosis is divided into two types:

1. taste;
2. idiopathic.

Taste hyperhidrosis appears after eating any food or drink, and is localized on the face, usually above the upper lip or on the forehead. The most common culprits for this phenomenon are:

• hot chocolate;
• coffee;
• heavy spicy food (for example, hash or hodgepodge);
• spices such as pepper or curry.

The idiopathic type of pathology is mainly caused by strong irritation or an initially high level of activity of the autonomic nervous system. Most often, such sweating occurs at the age of 16 - 30 years. This is the period of life when a person experiences the strongest emotional experiences. Usually, while sweat is concentrated in three areas: on the palms, soles, in the armpits.

Excessive sweating in women is additionally caused by the following reasons:

• hormonal changes;
• pregnancy;
• menopause.

Excessive sweating in men has other features and appears when:

• sports or just physical activity;
• heart disease (including arrhythmia);
• prolonged stress.

With generalized hyperhidrosis, the causes, as a rule, lie in a specific disease. Abundant sweating accompanies such “dormant” ailments in the body, such as diabetes mellitus, vascular pathologies, and thyroid diseases. In addition, sweating all over the body may appear under the following conditions:

• infectious and colds;
• all forms of tuberculosis;
• malaria, syptecymia or brutellosis;
• endocrine pathologies;
• hypertension;
• all diseases of the kidneys, in which the body removes excess moisture in a "backup" way;
• acromegaly - dysfunction of the pituitary gland, one of the symptoms of which is sudden sudden sweating throughout the body;
• pheochromocytoma, an insidious disease that often masquerades as symptoms of hypertension and manifests itself in the form of severe body sweating;
• oncological diseases are accompanied by excessive sweating in the evenings, at rest (for example, when watching television);
• vegetovascular dystonia;
• ailments affecting the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease, neurosyphilis, strokes;
• consequences of taking medicines, for example, analgesics, insulin, aspirin-containing drugs with the wrong dosage or too long use;
• psychosomatic disorders and disorders such as stress, panic attacks, depression, paranoia are often accompanied by intense sweating.

Let us dwell separately on increased sweating of the legs, which is far from always caused by any disease. Often the reason is completely banal - it's the wrong shoes. Of great importance is the material from which the "clothes" for the legs are made.

Synthetic shoes do not allow the skin to breathe and thus create conditions for increased sweating. At the same time, the use of deodorants for the feet will not give a positive effect. In addition, many people wear synthetic socks, which only exacerbates the problem. Therefore, with hyperhidrosis of the legs, you need to wear only cotton socks and take care of finding high-quality shoes made of genuine leather, which will provide the necessary ventilation and air access.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment for excessive sweating, like any other disease, begins with a visit to a specialist. During the appointment, the doctor will ask if the person is constantly sweating or if it happens from time to time, and also if sweating increases with stress.

During the conversation, the specialist should find out if the next of kin suffered from similar symptoms, what time of day the person sweats, which areas are affected, and assess the general condition of the patient in order to exclude infectious diseases.

Very often, the person himself becomes the cause of the progression of hyperhidrosis, as he begins to worry about his own sweat, experiencing discomfort in life and at work because of it. These thoughts and worries trigger psychosomatic mechanisms, intensifying the symptoms of a pathological condition.

Special attention requires increased sweating in a child. If the baby is not genetically predisposed to sweating, does not suffer from allergies, and the older child has not yet entered puberty, it is urgent to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.

In children, heavy sweating is almost always a symptom of a serious illness (such as heart disease). Therefore, if a child sweats profusely without objective reasons, this is an alarm signal that cannot be ignored.

Therapy Methods

Modern medicine uses the following methods and With remedies for excessive sweating:

• drug treatment;
• the use of antiperspirants;
• physiotherapy;
• cosmetic procedures (Botox, laser);
• surgery.

Medical antiperspirants are in stable demand for hyperhidrosis. One bottle of a product such as Maksim will be enough for intensive use throughout the year. Drydry deodorant is less economical, the pack lasts for six months, and Odaban is the strongest, the effect of one application lasts up to 10 days.

Most antiperspirants contain special ingredients that prevent sweating. These are salts of aluminum, zinc, salicylic acid, ethyl alcohol. The action of these substances is reduced to a narrowing or complete blockage of the excretory channels of the sweat glands, which helps to reduce the release of sweat. However, regular use of such drugs can cause dermatitis, allergic reactions, or swelling and inflammation in the area of ​​blocked ducts.

Drug correction is widely used, which stops excessive sweating based on drugs containing alkaloids (bellataminal, bellaspon, belloid). These drugs reduce the excessive activity of the sweat glands and do not cause addiction.

If the cause of hyperhidrosis is a violation of the functions of the nervous system, sedatives (valerian, motherwort, belladonna preparations), physiotherapy exercises or yoga are recommended. For people with an unstable, labile nervous system, the doctor usually prescribes tranquilizers that reduce irritability, help cope with stress, and thus eliminate the cause of hyperhidrosis.

Physiotherapy methods

Physiotherapeutic procedures give a good therapeutic effect. For example, hydrotherapy and the use of a contrast shower and pine-salt baths have a general strengthening effect and reduce the excitability of the nervous system.

Electrosleep, a therapeutic method based on the effect of low-frequency impulses directly on the brain, has a particularly beneficial effect. Electrosleep sessions have a pronounced sedative effect, inhibit nervous excitation and strengthen the autonomic system.

Another common method is therapeutic electrophoresis, during which problem areas are exposed to constant electric current in combination with drugs. Such an effect causes temporary dehydration of the area with increased sweating, and the active components of the drugs penetrate the skin and prevent the production of sweat for up to 20 days.

Popular Methods

1. Botox injections. One of the most modern methods of treating hyperhidrosis is Botox injections, which for a long time (up to 6 months) block the nerve endings in the sweat glands and prevent profuse sweating. You can inject Botox into the problem area in a beauty salon, but the procedure should only be trusted by an experienced cosmetologist.
2. laser treatment. The latest development of experts in the field of cosmetology is a laser method for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. The essence of the method is to use the thermal radiation of a neodymium laser, which destroys the sweat glands. In just one session, axillary hyperhidrosis can be completely cured. The procedure is practically painless, does not require preliminary preparation and does not cause complications.
3. Surgery. This is the most radical way to deal with hyperhidrosis, associated with a certain risk. Therefore, they resort to it only in especially severe cases and after conservative treatment has not brought results. There are both local and central methods of surgical treatment. Which one to choose, the specialist decides, after assessing the patient's condition and possible risks. Most interventions are aimed at removing part of the sweat glands in order to normalize the processes of sweating.

Folk remedies

The traditional, popularly accepted methods of dealing with excess sweat include three areas:

• hygiene;
• sedatives;
• odor control measures.

Body hygiene involves a visit to the bath, with a mandatory steam room and brooms, in which there should be not only leaves, but also birch buds. This method, in addition to a pronounced hygienic effect, “expels” many ailments from the body.

Recommended herbal teas from mint, lemon balm, motherwort and other medicinal plants that have a calming effect and eliminate psychosomatic disorders. Measures to combat sweat odor include the use of various natural substitutes for deodorants, such as fruits or greens with a pleasant, fresh smell, which can be used to treat the underarm area.

An excellent effect is given by tinctures for wiping problem areas, prepared on the basis of medicinal plants (chamomile, birch buds, mint, sage, oak bark). You can take coniferous baths two or three times a week by adding a few drops of a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the water.

For the treatment of feet, people use a mixture of talc and starch or boric acid powder. It is enough to treat them every evening after washing the feet with such a powder to reduce excessive sweating.

Excessive sweating of the body can be a sign of various ailments, an independent pathology, or simply be an individual feature of a particular person. In any case, it is quite possible to solve this unpleasant problem; for this, doctors have enough means and opportunities in their arsenal.

In medical practice, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis (from the Greek. hyper - "increased", "excessive", hidros - "sweat"), is profuse sweating, which is not associated with physical factors, such as overheating, intense physical activity, high ambient temperature, etc.

Sweating occurs in our body constantly, it is a physiological process in which the sweat glands secrete a watery secret (sweat). This is necessary to protect the body from overheating (hyperthermia) and to maintain its self-regulation (homeostasis): sweat, evaporating from the skin, cools the surface of the body and lowers its temperature.

So, in the article we will talk about such a phenomenon as excessive sweating. The causes, treatment of hyperhidrosis will be considered by us. We will also talk about generalized and local forms of pathology.

Excessive sweating in healthy people

In the body of a healthy person, sweating increases at an air temperature above 20-25 degrees, with psycho-emotional and physical exertion. Motor activity and low relative humidity contribute to increased heat transfer - thermoregulation is carried out, overheating of the body is not allowed. Conversely, in a humid environment where the air is still, sweat does not evaporate. That is why it is not recommended to stay in a steam room or a bath for a long time.

Sweating increases with excessive fluid intake, so when you are in a room where the air temperature is high, or during increased physical exertion, you should not drink a lot of water.

Stimulation of sweating also occurs in the case of psycho-emotional arousal, therefore, increased sweating of the body can be observed when a person experiences strong emotions, such as fear, excitement.

All of the above are physiological phenomena that are characteristic of healthy people. Pathological disorders of sweating are expressed in an excessive increase or, conversely, a decrease in the release of sweat, as well as in a change in its smell.

Physiology of the sweating process

Wet armpits, wet soles and palms, a strong smell of sweat - all this does not add confidence to a person and is negatively perceived by others. It is not easy for people who have increased sweating. The reasons for this condition can be found out if you understand the physiology of the sweating process as a whole.

So, sweating is a natural mechanism that provides cooling of the body and removal of toxic substances, excess fluid, products of water-salt metabolism and decay from it. It is no coincidence that some drugs that are eliminated from the body through the skin give sweat a blue-green, reddish or yellowish tint.

Sweat is secreted by sweat glands located in the subcutaneous fat. Their greatest number is observed on the palms, in the armpits and on the feet. According to the chemical composition, sweat consists of 97-99 percent water and impurities of salts (sulfates, phosphates, potassium and sodium chlorides), as well as other organic substances. The concentration of these substances in the sweat secretion is not the same for different people, and therefore each person has an individual smell of sweat. In addition, bacteria present on the surface of the skin and the secretion of the sebaceous glands are added to the composition.

Causes of hyperhidrosis

Modern medicine cannot yet give a clear answer to the question of what causes such a violation. But it is known that it develops, as a rule, against the background of chronic infectious diseases, thyroid gland pathologies, and oncological diseases. Excessive sweating of the head in women, oddly enough, can be observed during pregnancy. In addition, a similar phenomenon occurs with ARVI, accompanied by high fever, taking certain medications, and metabolic disorders. Another reason for excessive sweating of the head is allergies. Stress, malnutrition, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc. can also provoke this form of hyperhidrosis.

Sweating on the face

This is also quite rare. It is also called granifacial hyperhidrosis or sweaty face syndrome. For many people, this is a big problem, since it is almost impossible to mask sweat in this area. As a result, public speaking, and sometimes ordinary communication, becomes overwhelming. Excessive sweating of the face in severe form can lead to major psychological problems: a person becomes withdrawn, suffers from low self-esteem and tries to avoid social contacts.

This type of hyperhidrosis may be due to increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The problem is often combined with excessive sweating of the palms and blushing syndrome (sudden appearance of red spots), against which erythrophobia (fear of blushing) can also develop. Facial hyperhidrosis may appear due to dermatological disorders, causes of hormonal origin, as a result of a reaction to medications.

Sweating during menopause

In women, excessive sweating may be associated with impaired thermoregulation due to hormonal changes. In this case, there are so-called tides. Incorrect impulses from the nervous system cause the blood vessels to expand, and this inevitably leads to overheating of the body, which, in turn, gives an impulse to the sweat glands, and they begin to actively secrete sweat in order to normalize the body temperature. With menopause, hyperhidrosis is usually localized in the armpits and on the face. It is important during this period to monitor nutrition. You need to eat more vegetables, as the phytosterols contained in them can reduce the strength and number of hot flashes. It is recommended to replace coffee with green tea, which helps to eliminate toxins. Spicy foods and alcohol should be avoided from the diet, as they increase sweating.

When excessive sweating appears in women during menopause, treatment should be comprehensive. It is necessary to drink vitamins, lead an active life, maintain personal hygiene, use antiperspirants and look positively at the surrounding reality. With this approach, you will definitely win in the fight against hyperhidrosis.

Excessive sweating in a child

In children, excessive sweating is quite common. But such a phenomenon should alert parents, since it may indicate the presence of a serious illness. To find out the nature of the symptom, you need to contact your pediatrician. Excessive sweating in a child may be accompanied by restless sleep or insomnia, changes in behavior, crying and moodiness for no apparent reason. What is the reason for such a state?

• Vitamin D deficiency. In children under two years of age, excessive sweating may be a symptom of rickets. In this case, during feeding, you can see distinct droplets of sweat on the baby’s face, and at night his head sweats, especially in the occipital region, so the entire pillow becomes wet in the morning. In addition to sweating, the child has itching in the head area, the baby becomes lethargic or, conversely, restless and capricious.
• Colds. Angina, flu and other similar ailments are often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which leads to increased sweating in children.
• Lymphatic diathesis. This pathology occurs in children of three to seven years and is manifested by an increase in lymph nodes, high irritability and hyperhidrosis. It is recommended to bathe the child more often, to engage in physiotherapy exercises with him.
• Heart failure. If there are disturbances in the work of the heart, then this is reflected in the functioning of all organs and systems, including the sweat glands. One of the alarming symptoms in this case is cold sweat.
• Vegetovascular dystonia. Such an ailment in children can be manifested by essential hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating in the area of ​​​​the feet and palms.

It should be remembered that excessive sweating in children can be a physiological temporary phenomenon. Babies often sweat when they don't get enough sleep, when they're tired, or when they're nervous.

Non-surgical treatment

If hyperhidrosis is not a symptom of any disease, then in medical practice it is treated conservatively, using drug therapy, antiperspirants, psycho- and physiotherapeutic methods.

If we talk about drug therapy, then different groups of drugs can be used. The purpose of this or that medication depends on the severity of the pathology and the existing contraindications.

People with an unstable, labile nervous system are shown tranquilizers and sedatives (sedative herbal preparations, medicines containing motherwort, valerian). They reduce excitability and help fight daily stress, which acts as a factor in the occurrence of hyperhidrosis.

Medicines containing atropine reduce the secretion of sweat glands.

You should also use antiperspirants. They have a local effect and prevent sweating due to their chemical composition, including salicylic acid, ethyl alcohol, aluminum and zinc salts, formaldehyde, triclosan. Such drugs narrow or even completely clog the excretory ducts of the sweat glands, and thus block the excretion of sweat. However, when using them, negative phenomena can be observed, such as dermatitis, allergies and swelling at the site of application.

Psychotherapeutic treatment is aimed at eliminating the psychological problems of the patient. For example, you can cope with your fears and learn how to keep your emotions under control with the help of hypnosis.

Among the physiotherapeutic methods, hydrotherapy is widely used (contrast shower, pine-salt baths). Such procedures have a general strengthening effect on the nervous system. Another method is electrosleep, it consists in exposing the brain to a pulsed low-frequency current. The therapeutic effect is achieved by improving the activity of the autonomic nervous system.

Excessive sweating in men and women is now also treated with Botox injections. With this procedure, the pharmacological effect is achieved due to the long-term blocking of the nerve endings that innervate the sweat glands, as a result of which sweating is significantly reduced.

All of the above conservative methods, when used in combination, can achieve a stable clinical result for a certain time, but do not solve the problem radically. If you want to get rid of hyperhidrosis once and for all, you should pay attention to surgical treatment.

Local surgical methods of treatment

• Curettage. This operation consists in the destruction of nerve endings and the subsequent removal of the sweat glands in the place where excessive sweating is observed. Surgical procedures are performed under local anesthesia. A 10 mm puncture is made in the area of ​​hyperhidrosis, as a result of which the skin exfoliates, and then curettage is carried out from the inside. Most often, curettage is used in case of excessive sweating of the armpits.

• Liposuction. Such an operational event is indicated for overweight people. During the operation, the nerves of the sympathetic trunk are destroyed, due to which the action of the impulse that provokes sweating is stopped. The technique of liposuction is similar to curettage. A puncture is made in the zone of hyperhidrosis, a small tube is inserted into it, through which the nerve endings of the sympathetic trunk are then destroyed and fiber is removed. If an accumulation of fluid forms under the skin, it is removed with a puncture.
• Skin excision. This manipulation gives good results in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. But at the site of exposure, a scar about three centimeters long remains. During the operation, the zone of increased sweating is determined and its complete excision is carried out.

One of the most unpleasant diseases for a person, especially in the summer, is hyperhidrosis. This disease is characterized by the fact that the patient exhibits very strong sweating (above the physiological norm) at high air temperatures or with little excitement. People suffering from excessive sweating very often experience difficulties in social and private life. By itself, severe sweating is not dangerous to human health, but at the same time, the quality of life of the patient is noticeably reduced.

The human body contains approximately four million sweat glands located throughout the body, and their main function is to regulate the temperature of the human body. In people suffering from increased sweating, there are no abnormalities in the structure and development of the sweat glands, they only have hyperfunction of these organs. Most often, excessive sweating occurs in the armpits, arms (hands), legs (feet), and in some cases there is profuse sweating even in the face and chest. It happens that severe sweating manifests itself throughout the body, then it is called general hyperhidrosis, and most often it is caused by some other diseases.

Symptoms of excessive sweating.

• Profuse sweating in the armpits, palms, feet, back, chest;
• Strong sweating during any physical exertion or stress;
• (bromidrosis).

Causes of heavy sweating.

Depending on the type of disease (primary or secondary hyperhidrosis), the causes of excessive sweating also differ.

Secondary hyperhidrosis (increased sweating caused by another disease):

• Hormonal disruptions (pregnancy, transitional age, menopause, pheochromocytoma, diabetes mellitus);
• Certain medicines;
• infections;
• neurological diseases.

Primary hyperhidrosis (sweating is not caused by any other disease):

Although doctors do not know exactly why primary hyperhidrosis occurs, they have successfully determined that excessive sweating is caused by high activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Remedies for hyperhidrosis, or how to get rid of heavy sweating.

The main thing to consider is that if the disease is caused by any other disorders in the body, then first you need to cure these same diseases.

Antiperspirants. Use antiperspirants as an antiperspirant. Do not confuse the concept of antiperspirant and deodorant. The fact is that deodorants are designed only to remove or mask the unpleasant smell of sweat, and antiperspirants block the excretory ducts of the sweat glands, thereby reducing the process of sweating. The most effective antiperspirants are those containing aluminum chloride, but again they can cause irritation, which can be alleviated with mild (1%) corticosteroid creams or ointments.

Iontophoresis. The method of iontophoresis is based on the fact that under the influence of direct current, an ionized substance penetrates through intact skin. Iontophoresis is very often used to treat sweaty feet and hands. For the treatment of armpit hyperhidrosis, iontophoresis is not very well suited, so it is used in conjunction with other methods. The whole procedure consists in the fact that the patient immerses the feet or hands in special baths filled with water, and the device generates weak currents. The whole process takes 20 to 40 minutes. Treatment is carried out every day or every other day for 7-10 days, until sweating drops to the desired level, and then the iontophoresis procedure will need to be carried out approximately once a month.

Since current is used during iontophoresis, that is, there are contraindications, for example, it is not recommended to use this method of treatment for pregnant women, people with metal prostheses, with chronic heart failure and an installed pacemaker, it is also not recommended to use iontophoresis in violation of the integrity of the skin.

Botox. Botulinum toxin type A, known as "Botox". As a subcutaneous injection, it is most often used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis, but can also be used on other areas of the body. Botox is a protein mixture that is injected under the skin in small doses, thereby blocking the nerves of the sweat glands, resulting in reduced sweating in the patient. The action of the drug begins on the 2nd - 3rd day (maximum 2 weeks). And within 7 days the patient is not recommended to visit the sauna or solarium. The disadvantage of this method is that the blocking of increased sweating occurs for 6-12 months, and then a second procedure is required. Botox is usually used when antiperspirants or iontophoresis fail.

Medicines. Sometimes doctors may prescribe medications for their patients to treat excessive sweating (antcholinergics, beta-blockers). Theoretically, these drugs can reduce a person's sweat production, but there are doubts that they can help with primary hyperhidrosis. Some patients, for example, manage to achieve good results when antcholinergic drugs are added to the water during the iontophoresis procedure.

With long-term use of such medicines, a person may experience other problems, since these medicines have a number of unpleasant side effects: dry mouth, intense thirst, blurred vision, difficulty urinating, drowsiness, constipation, heat stroke.

The fact is that taking medication reduces sweating throughout the body, so the body experiences a lot of stress at high temperatures. It should also be borne in mind that antcholinergic drugs do not cure, but only block excessive sweating for a while.

Surgical intervention. If all other methods against sweating (antiperspirants, iontophoresis, medications, Botox) did not help the patient, then surgical intervention is used to remove the sweat glands or block the nerve pathways.

For the treatment of sweating (hyperhidrosis) of the armpits, a special operation is used - curettage. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia and takes about 30-40 minutes. First, the doctor makes one or two punctures in the armpit, and then, with the help of a special instrument (curette), the surgeon performs closed curettage (scraping and exfoliation of the skin) of the armpit from the inside. During this operation, the destruction of small nerve endings that affect the sweat glands occurs, and a small part of the sweat glands is also removed. Sweating in a patient disappears immediately and most often does not manifest itself throughout life, but sometimes a second operation is required when the nerve endings germinate to the sweat glands.

Another method that has proven effective in treating the disease is endoscopic sympathectomy. This operation is performed in two ways: the first is the destruction of the sympathetic trunk by high-frequency current, and the second is the imposition of a clip (clamp) on the nerve. Most often, this operation is used to treat sweating of the feet and hands. The effect of both methods is very high and lasts forever, but when using the second method, the integrity of the nerve is not violated, therefore, if a complication occurs, all the consequences of the operation can be canceled and the nerve can be restored to working capacity. In rare cases, patients after surgery experience complications such as Horner's syndrome, compensatory sweating, pain in the legs, and during surgery on the lower back.

• Do not wear tight, tight-fitting synthetic clothing. Try to choose clothes made from 100% linen, cotton, silk or wool.
• Try not to eat foods that provoke sweating: spicy foods, hot drinks, alcohol and coffee.
• Try to maintain hygiene and take a shower every day, the fact is that hyperhidrosis creates very good conditions for the development of fungal and pyogenic flora, as a result of softening and swelling of the skin.

Increased sweating is a reflex process in the body on the influence of high air temperatures in the environment. The thermoregulation system releases a significant amount of fluid in order to avoid overheating of the body and normalize the internal temperature. In medicine, this symptom is referred to as "hyperhidrosis".

Also, a person can sweat intensely when playing sports or during other physical exercises. If a strong release of a liquid with a fetid odor is not caused by the season or physical education, then this may indicate the appearance of an ailment in thermoregulation or sweat glands.

Etiology

Sweat appears on the surface of the skin due to the work of special external secretion glands. The composition of natural excretion contains a lot of mineral salt, urea, ammonia, various toxic substances and waste products. Sometimes sweat can be strongly smelling, and sometimes it is barely perceptible. It depends on the characteristics of the body of a man or woman.

Clinicians identify common causes of excessive sweating in all populations. Such a symptom may appear under the influence of some indicators:

• genetics;
• impaired functionality of the thyroid gland;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• kidney disease;
• infectious diseases;
• oncological diseases;
• congenital anomaly in the thermoregulation system;

Increased sweating in women is most often manifested during pregnancy. In women, by the age of 45–50, the level of sex hormones begins to decrease, and in adolescence in girls, on the contrary, it increases. During this period, hormonal changes begin, which develop along with a violation of thermoregulation. A woman's sweating increases, and more often she throws herself into a fever for no apparent reason.

Increased sweating during pregnancy is normal in the first trimester, at a time when the body is reconfiguring to a new hormonal background. Weight gain during pregnancy also leads to disruption of the thermoregulation system. If the increase in body weight falls on the second and third trimesters, then the woman may have even more sweat.

Increased sweating in men has approximately the same causes of manifestation as in women. In a strong half of humanity, a symptom can develop under such factors:

• infectious diseases;
• kidney problems;
• excess weight;
• nervous excitability;
• the use of certain drugs;
• heredity.

Increased sweating in men is noted in the armpits, palms, legs, sometimes on the head and feet.

At the beginning of life, a person can also manifest. Often this is due to the manifestation of certain diseases or overheating of the body. In the first years of a baby's life, his receptors are not prepared for the influence of environmental factors, therefore, disturbances in the thermoregulation system may appear. The baby is especially prone to overheating and hypothermia, so young parents should definitely monitor the health of the baby.

An abnormally high sweat secretion in a child's body can indicate such diseases:

• of cardio-vascular system;
• lack of vitamin D;
• endocrine system;
• the use of certain drugs.

Night sweats are quite common among men and women. It can be triggered by the usual increase in ambient air temperature, as well as by some pathological processes. Increased sweating during sleep manifests itself in a person for similar reasons that have already been previously listed. Such a symptom is characteristic of the development of certain ailments and with individual manifestations of the body:

• hormones;
• infections;
• sleep disturbance;
• metabolic failure;
• the use of medicines;
• tumors;
• nervous ailments;
• stress;
• mental pathologies;
• alcoholism, drug addiction.

Classification

A sign is formed for a variety of reasons, therefore, according to the principle of etiology, the disease is divided into two categories - primary and secondary.

According to the localization of the indicator, clinicians have identified the following types:

• local;
• palmar;
• plantar;
• axillary;
• facial;
• inguinal-perineal;
• generalized.

There are three degrees of complex development of hyperhidrosis:

• mild - abnormal sweating, but the person does not feel any special problems;
• medium - some social problems appear, for example, when shaking hands;
• severe - a strong manifestation of sweat, which causes social problems.

Sweating can develop in several ways - regularly, seasonally and intermittently (periodically).

Symptoms

Symptoms of increased sweating appear at various points throughout the body. A person may experience sweating on the feet, palms, forehead, face, armpits, groin, or all areas at once. The skin at the site of increased sweating becomes moist and slightly cool to the touch, the bones and feet may acquire a slightly bluish tint, which indicates a violation of peripheral circulation.

Many are accustomed to the fact that sweating has specific symptoms, unpleasant moisture and odor. However, doctors say that in fact, sweat does not have a special smell. An unpleasant odor is manifested from the bacterial microflora that is present on the skin of each person. Sometimes an unpleasant smell is manifested by the release of specific substances from the body of a particular person, namely tobacco, alcohol, garlic or other processed products.

Diagnostics

To find out how to get rid of increased sweating, the patient should definitely consult a doctor. Any self-medication can provoke the appearance of an enhanced symptom and the progression of the pathology. When seeking help from a doctor, the therapist must establish the cause of the symptom. To identify factors that provoke increased sweating at night or during the day, the patient is examined. The doctor during the collection of anamnesis should clarify the following points:

• intensity of manifestation and how long the symptom appears;
• additional symptoms - frequent heartbeat, poor appetite, weight loss, disturbed emotional state;
• whether there are other diseases;
• whether allergies are present;
• frequency of stressful situations;
• whether any drugs were used.

Also, the patient needs to take a blood test to test for hormones and glucose. After determining the presumptive diagnosis, the patient is sent for a more accurate diagnosis by instrumental methods in order to accurately determine the source of the manifestation of an unpleasant symptom.

Treatment

Before asking how to get rid of a symptom, the patient needs to undergo a thorough examination. Depending on the diagnosed pathology, the doctor prescribes different methods of therapy to the patient. To effectively eliminate the symptom, the patient is prescribed non-surgical and surgical treatment.

Before embarking on conservative treatment, doctors give all patients general recommendations that will help reduce the high level of sweating:

• monitor personal hygiene;
• use deodorants;
• wear clothes and underwear made from natural fabrics, not synthetic ones;
• change clothes as often as possible;
• choose shoes that are light and comfortable;
• exclude from the menu very hot foods, spicy dishes, alcohol, nicotine, coffee.

After following all these instructions, the patient may immediately decrease the increased secretion of sweat. To fully eliminate hyperhidrosis in medicine, traditional methods of treatment are used:

• psychotherapeutic technologies;
• medicines;
• antiperspirants for excessive sweating;
• physiotherapy.

As part of psychotherapeutic therapy, doctors use hypnosis. With its help, it is possible to eliminate psychological problems in a person. The ability to properly hold all your emotions and fears helps a person cope not only with hyperhidrosis, but also with other ailments.

Male and female organisms are quite different, so drug treatment differs in drugs and the scheme for their use. The patient is prescribed the following medications:

• sedative;
• tranquilizers;
• Botox injections;
• belladonna medicines.

Means from increased sweating to combat increased sweating are selected individually. Doctors also include antiperspirants to the above remedies. They have a local effect. They contain salts of zinc, aluminum, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, triclosan, ethyl alcohol - they all reduce the secretion of sweat. This effect is achieved by reducing the blockage of the excretory channels of the sweat glands.

During physiotherapy, the patient is prescribed hydrotherapy, electrosleep, electrophoresis. Combining all the methods of therapy and spa treatment, the patient can get rid of prolonged high blood pressure.

Currently, the following types of surgical care are practiced in medicine, which can be performed by anyone:

• armpit liposuction;
• closed curettage of the armpits;
• excision of the skin of the armpits.

All these methods are absolutely safe, and after their implementation, the patient can expect long-term results without side effects. The decrease in sweat secretion is achieved by reducing the number of sweat glands, which provoke the appearance of a symptom. In 90% of patients after the operation, the question of how to get rid of sweat and unpleasant odor completely disappears.

Prevention

There are a lot of factors that increase sweat secretion, and each of them must be eliminated by a specific method of therapy. To avoid such problems, doctors advise to adhere to preventive measures:

• sleep in a ventilated and cool room;
• underwear should be made from natural fabrics;
• monitor personal hygiene;
• move away from stressful situations;
• do sport.

By performing simple actions, a person can eliminate the ailments that provoked increased sweating.

Is everything correct in the article from a medical point of view?

Answer only if you have proven medical knowledge

When does profuse sweat occur?

Profuse sweat is torrential sweat, very profuse sweating.

In some cases, increased sweat secretion is normal. If you come on vacation to Africa, of course, sweating will increase several times. The same applies to a visit to the bathhouse or a fast run (as well as other intense physical activity).

What can be done here? Just make up for the loss of fluid, drink more - both plain water and juices, tea. See how much tea is drunk in hot regions, for example, in Kazakhstan. They are well aware that with sweat the body loses not only water, but also important substances dissolved in it - for example, various salts.

However, if nothing has changed dramatically in your life, and you suddenly start to sweat a lot during the day or at night, then some kind of malfunction has occurred in the body. Let's see what pathological conditions or external influences cause profuse sweat, because this term still refers only to diseases.

kidney disease

Acute pyelonephritis is the most acute, especially if it is accompanied by accumulation of pus in the kidneys. Here there are pains in the lower back, and fever, and urination disorders. Characteristic of this disease and profuse sweat, and headaches, joint pain, vomiting, shortness of breath, palpitations.

Acute pyelonephritis is treated with the obligatory use of antibiotics, with a favorable outcome after 2-3 weeks, the patient recovers, respectively, and sweating returns to normal.

poisoning

This is a large group of diseases that develop when poisons of various origins enter the body or an overdose of certain types of drugs.

1. NSAID poisoning (the abbreviation is deciphered as follows: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, so as not to be confused with steroid - hormonal drugs). These are well-known drugs: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Nurofen and a whole list of drugs. Poisoning with such drugs is rarely severe, the symptoms are: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweat (not every NSAID causes it). Poisonings are treated in toxicological departments. A doctor is called a toxicologist. Gastric lavage, enemas and symptomatic treatment are usually done, in addition, activated charcoal is given.
2. Poisoning with salicylates (for example, Acetylsalicylic acid, another name for which is Aspirin) is very similar to the previous type of poisoning, and is also accompanied by profuse sweating. Severe cases are complicated by cerebral edema and pulmonary edema. There may be vomiting, tinnitus, sometimes confusion. Treatment also begins with the extraction of the remnants of the toxic substance from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) - washing the stomach and intestines. Repeatedly give activated charcoal, complications from the heart and lungs are treated according to standard schemes.
3. Poisoning with organophosphorus compounds - insecticides (Dichlorphos, Chlorpyrifos) and chemical warfare agents (in peacetime this can happen at a chemical plant). Manifestations: nausea, vomiting, involuntary defecation and urination, wheezing, cough, profuse sweating, shortness of breath. Death occurs most often from damage to the respiratory system. The complex of treatment includes the removal of the patient from the zone of spraying of the substance, the clothes are removed and carefully processed, the skin is washed with soap. If the poisonous compound was taken orally, it is recommended to introduce activated charcoal and remove poison residues from the gastrointestinal tract.

Endocrine disorders

Pre-menopausal women often experience profuse night sweats. This is especially painful when you have to change your nightgown and bed linen several times a night.

Hypersweating during menopause appears from a lack of estrogens - female sex hormones. After 40 years, and sometimes even earlier, their number begins to steadily decrease, which leads to negative consequences: hot flushes to the face, increased sweat secretion.

Torrential sweat occurs in several other diseases and chemical addictions. In each individual case, a narrow specialist is involved in the treatment.

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