I have to tell you something about me that some people might be embarrassed to admit. I sweat profusely when I work out. Now, I know that it is expected and common that one might sweat when they are working out. A big part of the workout process is sweating. People even talk about “building up a sweat” when they go for a workout. That is all fine and good. However, I encountered a problem where I would sweat too much for comfort. I needed to figure out something so I wouldn’t be so uncomfortable when I went out to take care of my body.
Hyperhidrosis
What I learned that I had was something known as hyperhidrosis. I wanted to stop hyperhidrosis because it makes me very uncomfortable to sweat as much as I do when I am working out. Other people might be able to deal with something like that, but it feels like literal torture to me to put myself through the paces of something like that.
I discovered that the issue was not that I had more sweat glands than anyone else. It is simply that the nerves connected to my sweat glands are significantly more sensitive than what is typical for most people. Thus, they are activated more easily when I work out, and they can honestly produce a significant amount of sweat regardless of how hard I try to avoid that scenario.
Another discovery that surprised me was the fact that roughly 4.8 percent of Americans suffer from hyperhidrosis. This figure is higher than I expected, and it let me know that I am not alone in the problems that I have with sweating more than I am comfortable with.
The Forms of Hyperhidrosis
There are two main forms of hyperhidrosis, primary and secondary. Here is how they work:
- Primary Hyperhidrosis – This form is typically inherited from your parents. It is a genetic condition that is passed down from generation to generation. Sweating excessively tends to occur in areas of the body such as the palms of your hands, your underarms, your feet, and your head.
- Secondary Hyperhidrosis – This form of hyperhidrosis is often caused as a result of a secondary condition such as diabetes, low blood sugar, nervous system disorders, or other conditions.
Learning which type of hyperhidrosis you have can help you figure out how you can tackle the condition in a way that will best serve you. I highly recommend that you figure out what is going on with your specific case as quickly as possible. Those who discover the root cause of their hyperhidrosis can begin to address the condition productively.
Other Factors That Impacted My Hyperhidrosis
I have to admit that there are other factors that I discovered can bring on hyperhidrosis. For example, I learned that factors such as the following can play a role in how hyperhidrosis impacts an individual:
- Body weight
- Genetics
- Your gender
- Your age
- The humidity in your area
Needless to say, it is not easy to stop hyperhidrosis without proper knowledge of everything that goes into it. I was glad that I did some research to figure out precisely what was going on with all of this. It made me feel a bit more knowledgeable about the circumstances that can cause hyperhidrosis, and I discovered that I could put myself in a place where I could start to make progress on the situation.
What if You Hardly Sweat When Working Out?
I don’t have the issue of NOT sweating when I work out, but I understand that some people find themselves in this position. They are concerned not about sweating profusely, but about not sweating at all while they are out there. Those in that scenario might want to check their hydration levels. I always carry plenty of fluids with me anytime I go to the gym to work out. I understand that the best thing that I can do for keeping myself hydrated and healthy is to keep fluids on me at all times. If I am always putting fluids in my body, then I should avoid any potential issues with dehydration.
What Can Help with Sweating When Working Out?
There are a few tactics that I have begun to use to keep my sweating down when I am working out. You see, I realize that my sweating problem needs to be brought under control, and I feel like the only way that this will happen is if I take every step that I can to prevent it from getting out of control.
What I do is apply some antiperspirant to the areas of my body that pose the biggest risk of sweating. This means that I apply it to my underarms, palms, and even feet. It helps contain the sweating and makes my body smell better at the same time. It is a process that takes a little bit of time, but I have found that this is better than trying to deal with excessive sweating all of the time.
