Secondary hyperhidrosis is not necessarily a medical condition in itself and can be considered a symptom of other illnesses or diseases or a side effect of drugs and medication. Medical conditions leading to secondary hyperhidrosis can include (buit are not limited to): endocrine disorders, anxiety, heart disease, lung disease, menopause in women, infections, tuberculosis, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, gout or diabetes. Some prescribed pills or medication abuse can also result in an increased activity of the sweat glands.

It is necessary to determine the underlying cause.  Therefore, it is important to consult with your medical practitioner.

The causes of primary hyperhidrosis are not yet 100% clear for the medical community. The condition often begins in teenage years and it seems to be affecting 2-3% of the total population. However, only a small percentage asks for medical help. Some specialists agree that primary hyperhidrosis might be genetic. Others believe that it is connected with a hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Although it is not yet clear how primary hyperhidrosis occurs, some lifestyle aspects may worsen it.  These include unhealthy eating habits, smoking, drinking alcohol and experiencing high levels or irritability and anxiety.

Primary hyperhidrosis typically affects the hands, armpits, and body.

Lots of people wonder why they sweat excessively. This is extremely bothering and frustrating for them and they don’t seem to be capable of identifying the cause. If you are one of these people, you are probably just as puzzled as everybody else in what concerns your problem. Unfortunately, there is no unique answer for all the sufferers. It is also hard to define excessive sweating because this also varies from individual to individual.

Some people for instance sweat a lot while working out at the gym. This is not very uncommon or bothering. On the other hand, there are people who sweat when they simply sit down without doing anything or when they walk without any hurry. Constantly living in fear and having to hide sweat patches is nothing pleasant. Excessive sweating might gradually take control of your life. There won’t be a single moment in which you will not think about your problem because you will be scared that it might occur in the worst possible moments. Something definitely needs to be done and the best starting point is to identify the causes of excessive sweating in your exact case. As said, what applies to one person might not apply to another one.

Excessive sweating is actually a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis. It affects a pretty significant number of people. However, all people must make the difference between hyperhidrosis and normal sweating. The latter one is a natural and indispensable function of the body which acts like a cooling mechanism. It activates when the body temperatures gets to high. Sweat glands are triggered by the nervous system, but it is also true that some people have numerous and more active sweat glands than others. There can be many factors that determine excessive sweating even in times when the body does not need to be cooled off. If the sweat glands are over active and perspiration is highly visible, there is definitely something wrong. In numerous cases excessive sweating is strongly related with increased levels of stressed or anxiety or with physical activity. However, this might not be applicable to all sufferers.

Identifying the cause of excessive sweating is indeed helpful because if it’s eliminated, the problem is solved. However, this is sometimes doable only in theory. Even though it might seem embarrassing to discuss the problem with a doctor, he or she might offer a pertinent and safe solution. At first, the doctor will probably recommend prescription strength antiperspirants like Anhydrol Forte or Driclor. They are based on aluminum chloride, a substance which inhibits the activity of the sweat glands. If they are of no help, it means that hyperhidrosis is pretty severe. Botox injections are another option. They simply stop the nerves from sending signals to the sweat glands. In case these don’t work either, the doctor might suggest a surgical procedure known as endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy. This stops the nervous activity concerning sweat glands for good. It might sound good for people facing hyperhidrosis daily, but it is a serious procedure that also involves risks and can cause complications. The decision to undergo it needs to be discussed with a professional.