Are you sweating night and day?
By randomguy. Filed in Random |
Is excessive sweating a normal occurance for you? Does it always seem like you're perspiring night and day with no relief? Here are some factors you should keep in mind.
As you know, sweating is a natural bodily function and is produced by glands in the middle layer of your skin. When your body temperature rises, the sweat is brought to the skin's surface and as the sweat evaporates, your body temperature decreases.
The amount of sweat produced varies depending on many circumstances. Of course physical activity plays a part as well as the climate but excessive sweating can also be a hereditary trait. If you are sweating night and day, ask a relative if heavy sweating runs in the family.
If you find you are having a problem with night sweats, it is possible that your body is responding to the ageing process. Teens going through puberty tend to sweat more as this is when their apocrine (underarm) sweat glands mature.
Likewise women entering menopause are more prone to night sweats as their hormone levels change. Medical experts are now becoming convinced that men also endure night sweats and other symptoms because of changing hormone levels later in life, in a process called andropause.
So what can you do if sweating night and day is getting you down? You can help eliminate the problem by:
1. Wearing natural fibers, such as cotton. Natural fibers tend to be lighter and they also allow your skin to breathe, wicking sweat away from you.
2. Avoiding spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol that tend to raise your body temperature.
3. Sleeping in a cool room.
4. Drinking a glass of cool water before bed and often during the day.
5. Bathing often, even morning and night and thoroughly scrubbing away the sweat with a loofah sponge rather than a washcloth.
6. Thoroughly drying yourself after you bathe. Pay special attention to your armpits, your groin and between your toes, which are ideal breeding areas for bacteria.
7. Changing and thoroughly washing your clothing, bed linens and towels after each use and not sharing them with others.
8. Using an antiperspirant/deodorant containing aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate. If these compounds irritate your skin, check your health food store or medical supply store for other varieties.
9. Using small amounts of talcum powder or cornstarch to blot away wetness as needed. Keep the powder away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
10. Seeing a doctor if these tips do not relieve the problem. Sweating night and day may be a sign of a more serious health problem.
Sweating night and day is an inconvenience but usually by following some simple tips, it's nothing to get all hot and bothered about.