Health Encyclopedia

Sweating

Definition

Sweating is the release of a salty liquid from the body's sweat glands. This process is also called perspiration.

Sweating is an essential function that helps the body stay cool. Sweat is commonly found under the arms, on the feet, and on the palms of the hands.

Alternative Names

Perspiration

Considerations

How much you sweat depends on how many sweat glands you have. A person is born with about two to four million sweat glands. The glands start to become fully active during puberty. Women actually have more sweat glands then men -- men's glands are just more active.

Because sweating is the body's natural way of regulating temperature, people sweat more when it's hot outside. People also sweat more when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

If sweating is accompanied by fever, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a rapid, pounding heartbeat, talk to a doctor. These symptoms may indicate an underlying problem, such as hyperthyroidism. Excessive sweating may also be a symptom of menopause.

Common Causes

Alcohol
Caffeine
Cancer
Certain medicines, including thyroid hormone, morphine, drugs to reduce fevers, and medicines to treat mental disorders
Emotional or stressful situations (anxiety)
Exercise
Fever
Infection
Low blood sugar
Menopause
Overactive thyroid gland
Spicy foods (known as "gustatory sweating")
Warm temperatures
Withdrawal from alcohol or narcotic pain killers

Home Care

After sweating, you should:

Wash the face and body
Change clothes and bed sheets
Drink plenty of water to replace lost body fluids
Slightly lower room temperature to prevent more sweating

Call your health care provider if

You sweat a lot or if sweating lasts for a long time or can't be explained.
Sweating occurs with or is followed by chest pain or pressure.
Sweating is accompanied by weight loss or most often occurs during sleep.

References

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004:2365, 2446-2447.

Grant RA. Don't Sweat It. Dermatology Insights. 2002; 3 (1):12-13.

Paradox P, Frey R. Body Odor. In: Longe J, ed. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Vol. 1. 2nd ed. Detroit, Mi: Gale; 2005:269-271.

Rosenthal MS. Temperature Regulation. In: Robinson R, ed. Biology. Vol. 4. New York, NY: Macmillan Reference USA; 2002:154-157.

Review Date:4/26/2007
Reviewed By:Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.