What Really Causes Excess Sweating?
Excessive sweating is an embarrassing problem that can cause people to sweat profusely. Sweating can occur at times a ‘normal’ person would sweat such as in high temperatures or after rigorous physical exercise. However it can also happen at inopportune times with no regular sweat triggers. It can leave sufferers covered in sweat several times a day, requiring a shower and change of clothes. While the severity of the sweating can differ dramatically from person to person, it is a big problem and estimates of how many people it effects range between one and three percent of the population. The scientific name for excessive sweating is hyperhydrosis, and the causes are mostly unknown. There are several observations that seem common across sufferers. One is hyperactivity in the vegetative or sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system has several functions in the body including a preparatory role in the ‘fight or flight’ reaction we have when faced with danger. It also regu
