Hyperhidrosis
Increasingly more individuals are following a healthy, vigorous
and strenuous way of life. As we get increasingly busy, we care
less about our bodily functions and problems. The physical processes
also adapt to the strains and stress which we encounter on day to
day basis. But this is not the case with everyone. Some people perspire
more if exposed to stress and strain of the everyday life in addition
to physical work and increased temperature.
Perspiring is the normal physical reaction to a severe condition.
The nervous system when detects some kind of stress sends signals
to the sweat glands to perspire. This aids in the regulation of
body heat as a body temperature normally rises in times of stress.
This is clearly observed when we are the atmospheric temperature
rises suddenly or while we are exercising, or get anxious, irritated,
humiliated or scared.
Although perspiring is a very normal physiological process, abnormally
high perspiration can be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.
Abnormally high perspiration is generally explained as the condition
where a body secretes more sweat than what is required to control
the body temperature.
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for abnormally high perspiration.
It is a disorder where the person experiences abnormally high perspiration.
This may happen from any part of the body. In this disorder the
person suffering may experience random, erratic and abnormally high
perspiration at times even in the cool and comfy atmosphere or during
rest. This affliction may affect any particular body part like palms,
underarms or feet or all of them. Palmar hyperhidrosis is the medical
term for abnormally high perspiration from the palms; axillary hyperhidrosis
for excessive sweating from underarms and plantar hyperhidrosis
affects the feet. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible
for stimulating the sweat glands and producing sweat, any malfunction
in this system affects the secretion of sweat by the sweat glands.
Hyperhidrosis may be of two kinds, primary and secondary. Primary
generally begins at the time of or before the teen age. In primary
hyperhidrosis, the affected area may be may be the palms, feet,
or underarms. Another term for it is focal hyperhidrosis, this is
hereditary in nature. Individuals usually disregard the indications
of primary hyperhidrosis. Studies reveal that approximately 3% of
the population sufferes from this variety of the disorder and out
of this 3% less than 40% seek medical intervention to treat the
condition.
Conversely secondary hyperhidrosis may occur quite suddenly. Secondary
may affect individuals of any age. This variety of hyperhidrosis
usually occurs due to some medical problem such as thyroid problem,
diabetes, tumours, arthritis, gout, menopause, some medications
or mercury poisoning. The symptoms associated with the later kind
of hyperhidrosis are more serious than primary hyperhidrosis.
Whether primary or secondary, hyperhidrosis is a disorder which
may not be fatal but causes grave physical and emotional problem
for the suffering individual. The uneasiness, distress and humiliation
caused by the disorder mars him/her emotionally and may even cause
delay in the treatment and cure. It is therefore very essential
to understand that this disorder can be managed and consult a dermatologist
without delay if you think your sweating is above normal and interrupting
your social life. If the disorder is identified in the early stages
then milder treatments may be necessary to alleviate the problem
and also prevent hyperhidrosis from growing into unmanageable proportions.
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