Why We Sweat in Exercise

Deodorants, antiperspirants, body sprays -- people go through considerable effort to hide the fact that they sweat. Sweating is a response to several potential triggers, such as anxiety, anger or a warm environment. It's a particularly vital function when you exercise or engage in other types of physical exertion; lacking the ability to sweat can put you at risk for overheating, a potentially life-threatening event.

Purpose

When you perspire, the sweat glands throughout the body are responsible for releasing liquid through the pores. The armpits, hands and feet are the main areas that become sweaty during perspiration. The purpose of sweating is to regulate your body temperature. Your temperature increases during exercise, causing the sympathetic nervous system to respond. This part of the nervous system, which controls the body's response to stress, triggers the sweat glands to release the fluid. This process is what helps cool you down during workouts.

Normal Sweating

How much you sweat during exercise depends upon the number of sweat glands you were born with. The norm is two to four million glands, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Despite the fact that women are born with a greater number of sweat glands, heavy sweating is associated with men because their glands are more active. Intense sweating during exercise can actually be a sign of physical fitness. The American Council on Exercise reports that exercising regularly can lead to faster and heavier perspiration to prevent overheating.

Effect of Environment

Another factor to consider when exercising is your environment, particularly if you are outdoors. Working out in humid conditions doesn't cause you to sweat more, but it does prevent the released liquid from evaporating on your skin. This is why you feel hotter or may think you sweat more in a humid environment. The evaporation process releases body heat into the air, helping you stay cooler. When evaporation doesn't occur in humid conditions, your body is unable to effectively cool down.

Excessive Sweating

If you notice you are sweating excessively without a normal trigger, such as exercise or stress, you may have a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Overactive sweat glands cause sweating at random times. Certain medications and health conditions -- including hyperthyroidism, anxiety and heart problems -- can cause excessive sweating as well. The hormonal fluctuations associated with menopause can produce hot flashes and sweating at inopportune times, often during the night. Interestingly, regular exercise may help reduce the frequency of both night sweats and hot flashes.

Absent Sweating

Not sweating enough is also a concern because your body is unable to effectively cool itself. This condition, called anhidrosis, may affect the entire body or only specific areas. Neurological conditions, burns and skin diseases are some potential causes. Dehydration also is a possible cause, which is an important consideration if you exercise or engage in sport activities. Contact your doctor if you believe your sweating is not normal.