Why do you sweat more than others?

Stress or strong activity can cause people to sweat, but if this happens when you're sitting still and listening to classical music, chances are your body is having problems.

The reason some people sweat a lot while others are not fully explained. However, expert Harmik J. Soukiasian, head of breast surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, shared some of his insights on this issue. Dr. Soukiasian also heads Cedars-Sinai's clinical team on hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating syndrome.

Video interview on Heidi Mitchell's television (WSJ) about living with sweat.

People sweating is normal

Sweating is a natural process. "If it's too hot, you sweat, and when the water evaporates, you feel cooler," he said. Sweating also serves other functions. It helps supply water to the skin, helps maintain the body's fluid balance, though doing so will remove electrolytes and salts. "You need to supplement with electrolytes and salts with something other than water if you are exercising with intense intensity or excessive sweating."

Weak people tend to sweat more than healthy people because the body must work harder to cool down.

Previous studies have shown that weaker people tend to sweat more than healthy people because the body must be more active to cool down, Dr. Soukiasian said. However, healthy people perspire earlier in equivalent movements. That's likely because people who are used to exercising have effective bodies. They begin to cool down as soon as the core temperature in the body increases.

Anxiety can put your body in existence, stimulate the release of adrenaline, increase your heart rate and signal the sweat glands to accelerate. According to Dr. Soukiasian, perspiration is part of the "fight or run" reaction and is normal. But "sweating when sitting on a chair listening to classical music is unusual".

Living with floods

Many drugs, including insulin, antidepressants and even aspirin, have side effects that make people sweat, Dr Soukiasian said. Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco can increase sweating, as they can increase heart rate and body temperature. Spicy foods, including capsaicin, a chemical in chili - can trigger short sweats, but usually last only a few minutes and can be reduced by drinking cold milk, "because Proteins' milk proteins " can dissolve hot sensations in the mouth causing sweating.

Obese people also seem to be sweating even more , although Dr. Soukiasian said there has not been a credible study that explains why. That may be because obese people must be more active to carry heavier weights, or perhaps because their bodies are more isolated from the cold.

The sweat glands run all over the body, but focus on the palms, armpits and soles of the feet.

Sweat glands run throughout the body, but focus on the palms, armpits and soles of the feet. Excessive sweating occurs when one of these clusters is stimulated even with the smallest effects, such as changing outdoor temperatures, and these "taps" will not stop . Experts are not entirely sure why this happened. This situation affects about 1% to 3% of the population."I have seen students who are unable to take tests because their palms are sweating so much that they blur the test paper , " he said.

How to prevent it

First, Dr. Soukiasian advised healthy people with a lot of perspiration to wear natural , wide fabrics and use antiperspirants in sweating areas such as hands or feet. If the problem continues, the next step is to buy an aluminum supplement with a dermatologist's prescription. Aluminum destroys cells in the glands, thereby reducing sweat production. (It may also irritate sensitive skin.)

Botox , a paralyzing agent, was the last "solution" before you were forced to perform surgery, and Dr. Soukiasian only suggested using this method after all other options were ineffective. .

Although menopause or flu can lead to heavy sweating, this condition is often unrelated to other common disorders, Dr. Soukiasian said. However, excessive sweating during sleep or only in one area of ​​the body can be a symptom of a rare disease such as tuberculosis, HIV or lymphoma."So if you sweat a lot at night or in specific areas, you should find a doctor."

"Unless you sweat during sleep or feel embarrassed with sweating at work or exercise, your sweat level is probably nothing to worry about." Just wash and change clothes regularly.