Why Do People Sweat?
Why do people sweat? There are different reasons why human beings sweat, aside from it being a normal body process.
So, why do people sweat? Sweating or perspiration is a means of regulating a human body’s temperature. It is the primary way of cooling down the body to maintain a healthy and normal temperature. The perspiration that emerges on the skin’s surface evaporates, producing the cooling that the body needs to retain a normal temperature.
A study revealed that on the average, men start to sweat much more quickly than women, then twice as much when they are exercising at the same relative intensity. Researchers uncovered that women consistently perspire less as compared to men, when they are subjected to heat stress from intense workout. Females sweat less because they are able to maintain their normal body temperature as compared to males. The reason behind this is that a female body evaporates perspiration more efficiently.
Why do people sweat more than others? Some people suffer from excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, wherein certain parts of the body are sweating beyond the bodies physiological needs. The cause is generally unknown but it is believed that the excessive perspiring does not help the body get cooler. The uncontrolled appearance of perspiration in certain body parts, like the hands or feet, is a manifestation of hyperhidrosis. Obviously, having this clinical condition can affect people negatively, especially in social settings.
Why do people sweat when they are nervous? People tend to sweat easily, especially when they are subjected to highly stressful situations. Speaking up in front of a large crowd or courting a girl can make you sweat profusely. Sweating is controlled by the nervous system, and when people get into situations that make them nervous, their sympathetic nervous system is triggered to produce adrenaline that further affects parts of the nervous system, making people sweat. When nervousness is experienced, the body engages in the “fight or flight” response. This reaction causes the blood vessels to constrict and force blood into the brain and heart. Since the sympathetic nervous system is so entangled, it causes the sweat glands to activate.
There is good news, though, for people suffering from excessive sweating. Now, there are several treatments available to combat excessive perspiration, such as herbal medications, botox injections, oral medications, and lotions. These treatments, if successful, are only for a limited time. However, a surgical method, known as ETS or endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, is the only known permanent solution.
