BLOG 36 SWEATING

BLOG 36 SWEATING

Sweat… we all do it. We start to feel the moisture under our arms, on our upper lip or forehead, on our lower back, and well for some of us just about all over. There are various reasons we do this natural occurrence. In my line of work, sweating just comes with the territory. So let’s take a look at this topic a little more that most of us probably don’t know much about other than the fact that the body just does it.

We have 2.6 million sweat glands, and when the temperature rises they start kicking into action. Basically, “Sweating is your body's natural way of keeping you cool. Some sweat evaporates from your skin, taking heat with it. The rest runs down your face and body” (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes). Exercise raises our body temperature and we then sweat. This is the importance or hydration while working out to help replenish the fluid that is lost so we can keep going. But exercise isn’t the only cause for us to do this. In fact, when we get angry our blood pressure rises, stress hormones are released, and our blood pressure rises. Our body temperature is then raised and we sweat.  Emotions as a whole can cause us to sweat, such as feeling embarrassed, anxious, or nervous. Sweaty palms are common when we feel under pressure. Fevers can cause us to sweat as well, and the body goes through hot and cold chills, until our normal 98.6 degrees is recovered. Furthermore, “Sweating can be a symptom of angina -- heart-related chest pain -- and a heart attack. Infections, diabetes, and an overactive thyroid gland all can make you sweat. Some diseases, like cancer and HIV, can cause night sweats” (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes). Certain medications can also cause sweating: “Sweating may be a side effect of several drugs, including antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood pressure medications, cancer treatments, and some diabetes drugs” (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes).

The list of causes continues, and to think you thought this was all exercise related. Coffee can make us sweat. I even drink coffee while working out so I guess I get the double impact. As such, “First, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, activating sweat glands (the more caffeine you drink, the more you sweat). Second, the heat from the drink itself can make your body feel hot enough to sweat (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes). Spicy foods also activate our sweat glands. And then there’s beloved menopause in which hot flashes are the enemy: “In a desperate attempt to shed excess heat, the blood vessels in your skin dilate and your sweat glands go into overdrive, leaving you feeling flushed, sweaty, and yearning for a cold shower” (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes). On the other end of the spectrum, pregnancy hormones can cause excessive sweating.

Some habits to ditch can cause sweating too. Drinking too much alcohol can also do the trick due to vasodilation when blood vessels widen. Here’s another reason to quit smoking: “Nicotine causes your body to release the chemical acetylcholine, which stimulates the sweat glands. It also raises heart rate and blood pressure and body temperature. Nicotine withdrawal also causes excess perspiration” (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sweating-relief-10/slideshow-sweat-causes).

Some of us certainly sweat more than others. Male sweat glands do produce more than females’. Being overweight can cause excessive sweating. How hard you are working or temperature of the environment can also play a part in how much one sweats. One size does not fit all for sweat levels because we all have different physiology. However there is an actual diagnosis for those why sweat too much: “Excessive sweating becomes hyperhidrosis — a condition formally recognized by physicians — when a person begins to sweat excessively in normal, non-stressful, not-overly heated places or situations. Three percent of the population has hyperhidrosis” (http://www.medicaldaily.com/sweat-set-what-causes-some-people-sweat-more-others-271950). Normal daily living activities cause a lot of sweating. This is a not a life threating condition and there are medications, creams, and even Botox to combat this. But trust me, a little extra sweat at the studio doesn’t bother me (just bring a darn towel).

A workout with a good sweat actually feels great. To me, I feel accomplished and energized from a sweaty tank top. Ladies know what it’s like taking a sweaty sports bra off after a good arm workout. On the other hand, having sweating arm pits at a business meeting might not be so attractive. There’s a time and place for everything right?? I love when clients roll out of bed and come in their ten year old junky shirt, knowing they’re just going to get sweaty and go home to shower. Through all the sweat and tears, we keep going and that’s the glory of our fitness journeys. I like the Snoop Dogg song, “Sweat”, because after all at your workout, “I just wanna make you sweat!!!!”