Perspiration is the body's natural reaction to an increase in body temperature. The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. According to KidsHealth, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain, reacts to changes in body temperature. Once your body temperature rises, the hypothalamus tells your sweat glands to perspire to decrease your body temperature. Perspiration, also called sweat, ceases once your body temperature normalizes. Persistent sweating, however, may indicate a health problem.
Features
Sweating itself is a relatively quick process. According to reporting by Aimee Phan and Steve Sternberg of USA Today, the capillaries underneath your skin dilate as soon as your body temperature increases. The dilated vessels then fill with blood, reaching underneath the sweat glands. Sweat glands utilize this process to gather water. KidsHealth notes that other elements in perspiration include salt, sugar, urea and ammonia.
Process
Perspiration leaves skin pores as soon as the body-cooling process begins. Most sweat evaporates once it comes into contact with air. Once this evaporation occurs, your body starts to cool down. However, not all sweat will evaporate if you perspire a lot in a short period of time.
Amount
The amount a person sweats varies based on a number of variables. According to MedlinePlus, the amount of sweat glands a person has ranges between 2 million and 4 million. The more sweat glands you have, the more likely you are to perspire more often in response to changes in body temperature. Men's sweat glands tend to produce more perspiration, although women tend to have a larger number of sweat glands than women.
Replenishment
Performing a challenging workout or spending a long time outdoors on a hot day likely will make you perspire more than normal. KidsHealth cautions that the more you perspire, the more water you are losing, because sweat is composed primarily of water. This puts you at risk of dehydration. Drink ample water when exercising or doing any type of activity that increases your body temperature over a short period of time.
Considerations
Perspiration is a normal bodily reaction to exercise, warm climates, hormone fluctuations, anxiety and prescription medications. MedlinePlus recommends calling a doctor if sweat is attributed to an unknown cause, or if you perspire for long periods of time. This can indicate an underlying health problem. Other symptoms that might accompany excessive perspiration include chest pain, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss.
Member Comments