The body produces sweat in glands to secrete on the skin and help cool off the body. One of the major areas of the body that sweats is the underarm. Individuals who have excessive amounts of sweat have a disorder referred to as hyperhidrosis. Most individuals sweat due to a response to things that cause anxiety, embarrassment or stress in addition to keeping cool after increasing body temperature. Two to three percent of the population suffers from excessive sweating in the armpits, according to MedlinePlus.
Heredity
For most individuals suffering from excessive underarm sweating, there is no known cause. This form of hyperhidrosis, referred to as primary focal hyperhidrosis, generally begins in childhood and does not occur due to a medical condition or medications, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This primary form usually runs in families.
Medications
Several medication categories can cause an increase in sweating. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, such as aspirin and acetaminophen, may cause sweating when treating a fever. Medications that treat depressive disorders, diabetes and lung conditions, such as asthma, can also cause an increase in sweating for individuals taking the medicine, according to the Merck Manuals. Medications, foods and beverages containing caffeine stimulate the body and cause an increase in sweating.
Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces hormones that help regulate metabolism. Some individuals have an overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, and produce too much of this regulating hormone. The increase in the thyroxine hormone will cause an accelerated metabolism and symptoms such as sweating and an irregular heart rate, says MedlinePlus.
Neurologic Disorders
The hypothalamus, located in the brain, produces hormones that help control the automatic activities in the body, such as sleeping patterns, appetite, heart rate and body temperature. Disorders to the hypothalamus, including injury or a brain tumor may decrease the body's ability to regulate the body temperature. An increase in temperature will cause the body to sweat excessively. Individuals with spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease or a stroke may experience an increase amount of sweating, according to MedlinePlus.
Infections and Cancer
Infections in the body and cancers can cause an increase in perspiration. Tuberculosis, AIDS and pneumonia are all serious infections involving the body that can cause sweating, reports MedlinePlus. These infections also have an increased risk of causing sweating during the night, referred to as night sweats. Cancers involving the lymph nodes and the blood may also cause an increase in sweating. These conditions cause an increase in body temperature due to a fever and the sweating helps to cool the body.
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