Excessive Sweating – Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating, perspiration that exceeds the level required to keep the body at normal body temperature. Sweat cools the body via the cooling affect of evaporation. If sweat is dripping from your body, you are sweating faster than the sweat is evaporating and therefore faster than the rate required to cool the body. This may be normal during heavy exercise or in humid climates. At rest in non-humid air, this level of excessive perspiration is hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis is prevalent in specific areas of the body:
• Palmar Hyperhydrosis: Excessive sweating of the hands. the feet
• Facial Hyperhydrosis: Excessive sweating of the face.
• Axillary Hyperhydrosis: Excessive sweating of the armpits.the groin.
• Plantar Hyperhydrosis: Excessive sweating of the feet.
It can also occur over the entire body but this is less common.
Hyperhidrosis can be primary or secondary. Primary Hyperhidrosis typically begins at puberty and is usually genetic. Secondary Hyperhidrosis may star at any time and should be considered a symptom of some other problem. Potential causes of secondary hyperhydrosis include:
• Thyroid gland disorders
• Pituitary gland
• Diabetes
• Tumors
• Gout
• Menopause
• Reactions to medication
• Allergies
The impact of hyperhidrosis, assuming it is not the symptom of another illness, is social. Hyperhydrosis patients suffer from fear of social situations, stage fright, or any situation that focuses attention on them. Sufferers fear that the sweat stains from excessive sweating reflect poorly on them and are evidence of their discomfort and embarassment. This fear of excessive perspiration creates a circular problem as sweating increases with anxiety. This fear can lead to problems in employment, choice of career, forming new social contacts, and engaging in social activity non sufferers consider fun and exciting.
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