Does Magnesium Cause Flushing & Sweating?

Does Magnesium Cause Flushing & Sweating?
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Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in the earth and one that's vital for your body. Magnesium is found in numerous foods, and you normally do not need to take a magnesium supplement as long as you eat a balanced diet. Neither magnesium deficiencies nor excesses typically cause flushing and sweating symptoms, and if you're experiencing these symptoms, you should consult a medical professional for advice.

Magnesium

You get magnesium by eating foods such as almonds, cashews, soybeans, potatoes, peanut butter and various other foods. Magnesium serves your body by supporting your immune system and keeping bones strong, as well as ensuring a regular heartbeat and more than 300 other biochemical reactions, according to the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. Your body absorbs magnesium through your small intestine and excretes excess amounts through your urine.

Magnesium Deficiency

The Office of Dietary Supplements reports that while many people do not get enough magnesium in their diets, magnesium deficiencies are rare in the United States. A magnesium deficiency typically first manifests itself with symptoms including loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. As the condition worsens, you may also experience a tingling feeling in your body, muscle contractions, abnormal heart rhythms and even personality changes.

Magnesium Toxicity

A magnesium toxicity is the opposite of a deficiency. Magnesium can build up in your body, but the Office of Dietary Supplements reports that developing a toxicity from dietary sources is very unlikely. However, people with kidney failure or those who take excessive magnesium from dietary supplements can develop magnesium poisoning. If you have magnesium toxicity you develop symptoms that are very similar to a deficiency, with nausea, muscle weakness, breathing difficulty and extremely low blood pressure. Flushing and sweating are not generally associated with an excess of magnesium.

Sweating and Flushing

Excessive sweating is known medically as hyperhidrosis. How much people sweat varies widely, but excessive sweating can be caused by such causes as medication, menopause, lymphoma and a heart attack, according to Mayo Clinic.com. Skin flushing or blushing is a common reaction when you feel embarrassed, upset or angry, but can also be caused by alcohol use, carcinoid syndrome and menopause, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. If you're experiencing an increase in flushing or sweating, you may want to consult your doctor, as they can be signs of a more serious condition.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Aug 8, 2011

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