Excessive sweating while you exercise can be alarming. It can be caused by many environmental factors and conditions, some that require the attention of a doctor. This makes it important to understand what can cause an increased amount of sweating during your workout and how it can be treated and prevented.
Symptoms
Excessive sweating during your workout can vary from mild to extreme. It can occur anywhere on your body, including your face, head, feet, legs and underarms. Sweat can soak through your exercise attire, staining your clothing and making your skin clammy and wet. You can experience an increased amount of body odor as the result of the sweat. Excessive sweating can disrupt your exercise routine and dissuade you from exercising in public.
Causes
Your body's core temperature rises significantly during exercise, causing your brain to send out signals to dissipate the heat as quickly as it can. If you are participating in high-intensity exercise, working out in a humid environment, do not take proper breaks or are not relatively fit, sweating can be excessive. In addition, exercising in hot weather or wearing too much clothing while exercising can result in excessive sweating. Some medical conditions such as hypoglycemia, lymphoma or an overactive thyroid can also trigger an increase in sweating during exercise.
Treatments and Prevention
Avoid exercising outdoors when the weather is hot or humid. Instead, work out indoors in front of fan or with the air conditioner running. Eat a small snack about an hour before you work out to keep your blood sugar levels stable while you exercise. Use a strong antiperspirant that blocks the sweat ducts. A doctor can prescribe a prescription-strength deodorant if over-the-counter varieties do not work. If excessive sweating is chronic, a doctor can prescribe a medication such as glycopyrrolate to reduce sweat gland stimulation or even perform surgery to remove the sweat glands in the armpits.
Warnings
Do not ignore excessive sweating during exercise --- especially if you do not normally experience it. Left untreated, it can cause a fungal or bacterial infection of the skin or nails. Seek medical attention if sweating is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, chest pressure, shortness of breath, a fever or rapid heart rate. These could be symptoms of a more serious condition such as hyperthyroidism or even a heart attack.
References
- University of Illinois Medical Center; Excessive Sweating; Adam Brochert; June 2000
- American Council on Exercise; Q: I Sweat Profusely (Literally Dripping Wet) during My Aerobic Workout. Is this an Indication that I'm Out of Shape?; 1999
- MayoClinic.com: Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating)
- MedlinePlus; Hyperhidrosis; June 2009
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