Profuse sweating refers to the excessive production of sweat on the skin’s surface, often accompanied by an increase in body temperature and heart rate. This symptom is often due to the body’s natural regulation mechanism to maintain body temperature in response to stimuli such as high temperatures, strenuous exercise, or emotional stress. However, it can also be associated with conditions such as heatstroke, hyperthyroidism, menopausal syndrome, and pheochromocytoma. Profuse sweating requires timely hydration to prevent dehydration, and sometimes requires prompt medical attention.
symptom
Typical manifestations
Profuse sweating is characterized by the profuse secretion of sweat on the skin’s surface, often accompanied by an increase in body temperature and a rapid heartbeat. This sweating may be generalized or concentrated in specific areas, such as the palms, soles, or forehead. As the sweat evaporates, the skin may appear clammy and cool. Patients may experience a clammy, sticky sensation, sometimes even causing discomfort or embarrassment.
complication
1. Dehydration
Prolonged sweating may lead to dehydration, which manifests as thirst, decreased urine output, dry skin, etc. Severe dehydration may cause increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, confusion, and even shock.
2. Electrolyte imbalance
Profuse sweating will also take away electrolytes from the body, causing electrolyte imbalance, which manifests as muscle weakness, cramps, arrhythmia, dizziness, nausea, etc.
3. Skin infection
Sweating keeps the skin moist, which provides a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi. If the skin is not cleaned and dried in time, it may cause skin infection, resulting in symptoms such as itching, redness, swelling, pain, rash, and blisters.
reason
Overview
Profuse sweating may be a normal physiological change caused by factors such as hot weather, strenuous exercise, and emotional excitement. It may also be related to diseases such as heatstroke, hyperthyroidism, menopausal syndrome, and pheochromocytoma.
Cause of symptoms
1. Physiological factors
(1) Hot weather: In a high temperature environment, the body will dissipate heat by accelerating metabolism and sweat evaporation in order to maintain a normal body temperature, resulting in profuse sweating.
(2) Vigorous exercise: When doing vigorous exercise, the body will generate a lot of heat. In order to maintain normal body temperature, the body will dissipate heat through sweating, so there will be profuse sweating.
(3) Emotional excitement: When emotions are too excited, the sympathetic nervous system will be excited, releasing a large amount of acetylcholine to stimulate the sweat glands to secrete sweat, causing profuse sweating.
2. Disease factors
(1) Heatstroke: When a person experiences heatstroke, the body’s temperature regulation system activates a heat dissipation mechanism to lower body temperature. Sweating is one of the main ways the body dissipates heat, so when a person experiences heatstroke, they sweat profusely. At the same time, the nervous system may be damaged during heatstroke, further affecting the normal regulation of sweating.
(2) Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism patients have excessively high thyroid hormone levels, which leads to increased sympathetic nerve excitability, hypermetabolism, and excessive heat production. To dissipate heat, the body regulates body temperature through sweating. In addition to profuse sweating, hyperthyroidism patients may also experience symptoms of high metabolism, such as intolerance to heat, increased appetite, weight loss, palpitations, and irritability.
(3) Menopausal syndrome: During perimenopause, women experience a gradual decline in ovarian function and a decrease in estrogen secretion, leading to endocrine disorders. This endocrine disorder affects the body’s temperature regulation center, making the body prone to symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating, which can manifest as profuse sweating in severe cases.
(4) Pheochromocytoma: Pheochromocytoma continuously releases hormones such as catecholamines, which can cause vasoconstriction and increase blood pressure. In order to dissipate heat, the body reacts to high temperatures and sweats profusely.
Common diseases
Heat stroke, hyperthyroidism, menopausal syndrome, pheochromocytoma
Seeking medical treatment
Home treatment
1. Rehydrate
After sweating profusely, the first thing to do is to replenish enough water. You can drink warm water, light salt water, or functional drinks to replenish lost body fluids and electrolytes to avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
2. Find a cool place to rest
If you sweat profusely in a hot environment or after strenuous exercise, you should move to a cool place to rest as soon as possible and reduce physical activity to lower your body temperature and reduce sweating.
3. Change into dry clothes
Wet clothes are not only uncomfortable, but may also accelerate the loss of body temperature and lead to hypothermia. Therefore, you should change into dry clothes in time to keep your body comfortable and warm.
4. Observe symptoms
After rehydrating and resting, closely monitor your symptoms. If symptoms improve, continue to monitor them at home. If symptoms worsen or other discomfort develops, seek medical attention promptly.
Emergency (120) indications
If profuse sweating is accompanied by critical and severe symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, and fainting, you should seek medical attention immediately or call 120 emergency number.
Outpatient indications
1. The symptoms of profuse sweating persist or recur, and there are no clear predisposing factors, such as environment, physical activity, etc.;
2. Profuse sweating accompanied by other symptoms, such as irritability, weight loss, and increased appetite;
3. Self-treatment at home, such as replenishing water and improving the environment, but the symptoms of profuse sweating did not improve;
4. Other severe, persistent or progressive symptoms and signs occur.
If the above situation occurs, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.
Treatment department
Those with critical conditions require emergency treatment; those with stable conditions can generally go to the endocrinology department for treatment.
Medical preparation
1. Make an appointment in advance and bring your ID card, medical insurance card, medical card, etc.
2. Drink plenty of water before seeing a doctor to replenish the water lost in the body and prevent accidents.
3. Before seeing a doctor, try to avoid strenuous exercise to prevent excessive physical exertion from aggravating sweating symptoms and affecting the doctor’s judgment.
4. Wear appropriate clothing according to the weather and the treatment environment. Avoid wearing too much or too little to avoid exacerbating sweating symptoms due to uncomfortable clothing.
5. Blood tests may be performed, and it is best to have the visit in the morning on an empty stomach.
6. If you have had medical treatment recently, please bring relevant medical records, examination reports, laboratory test results, etc.
7. If you have taken some medicine to relieve symptoms recently, you can bring the medicine box with you.
What questions might a doctor ask a patient?
1. How long have you been experiencing profuse sweating?
2. Does this symptom occur frequently? Are there any fixed times or triggers?
3. Have you ever had similar symptoms before?
4. Are there any other symptoms, such as palpitations, hand tremors, fever, weight loss, etc.?
5. Do you sweat excessively? Does it affect your daily life?
6. Does the sweat have an odor? Are there any skin abnormalities such as erythema or blisters?
7. Have your living habits and eating habits changed recently?
8. Are there any family members with similar symptoms?
What questions can patients ask their doctor?
1. Why do I have this symptom of profuse sweating?
2. Is this symptom serious? Will it have long-term effects on my health?
3. What tests do I need to confirm the diagnosis?
4. How should I treat this symptom? What treatments are available?
5. What should I pay attention to during treatment? What are the side effects?
6. How should I adjust my lifestyle and eating habits to alleviate symptoms?
7. How can I prevent this symptom from happening again?
examine
Scheduled inspection
If you experience profuse sweating, you should seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor will first perform a physical examination to gain a preliminary understanding of your condition, and then recommend blood tests, blood biochemistry, and thyroid function tests to identify the cause and assess your overall condition.
Physical examination
Doctors will observe the patient’s sweating, including its location, intensity, and duration, as well as any associated skin discoloration or rash. They will also monitor vital signs such as temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure to assess the patient’s overall health and any impact of sweating on these vital signs. If necessary, doctors may also examine consciousness, sensation, movement, and reflexes to rule out neurological disorders as the cause of the sweating disorder.
Laboratory tests
1. Blood routine test
A blood test is a common test that helps doctors determine if a patient’s blood composition and quantity are normal. In cases of profuse sweating, a blood test can help determine if there are any infections, anemia, or other conditions that may be causing the sweating.
2. Blood biochemistry
Blood biochemistry tests can detect various chemical substances in the blood, such as electrolytes, blood sugar, blood lipids, liver and kidney function, etc. In the case of profuse sweating, blood biochemistry tests can assess the patient’s water and electrolyte balance, as well as the presence of diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunction, etc. that may cause abnormal sweating.
3. Thyroid function test
Abnormal thyroid function is a common cause of abnormal sweating. Thyroid function tests include thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4 ) , and free triiodothyronine (FT3 ) . These tests can help doctors determine whether a patient’s thyroid function is normal and whether they have conditions such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
Imaging examinations
Doctors can make a preliminary judgment on the possible cause of the disease through clinical symptoms and the above-mentioned physical examinations and laboratory tests, and then conduct corresponding imaging examinations based on the cause, such as X-ray, CT, MRI, etc. These examinations can help doctors understand whether the patient has space-occupying lesions, inflammation, vascular lesions, and other diseases that may cause abnormal sweating.
diagnosis
Diagnostic principles
When a patient experiences profuse sweating, the doctor will comprehensively assess and determine the underlying cause through a detailed physical examination, combined with the patient’s medical history and symptoms, as well as necessary laboratory tests (such as blood routine, blood biochemistry, and thyroid function tests) and imaging studies (such as X-rays and CT scans). During the diagnostic process, it is necessary to diagnose causes such as heatstroke, hyperthyroidism, menopausal syndrome, and pheochromocytoma.
Differential diagnosis
1. Heatstroke
Heatstroke typically occurs in hot environments and can be accompanied by symptoms such as elevated body temperature, headache, and nausea, with sweating often occurring in areas exposed to sunlight. A diagnosis can generally be made based on the symptoms at the onset of the disease.
2. Hyperthyroidism
Patients with hyperthyroidism may experience typical endocrine system symptoms such as palpitations, weight loss, and irritability, and their sweating may be generalized. Thyroid function tests can confirm the diagnosis.
3. Menopausal syndrome
Menopausal syndrome occurs in women during the perimenopausal period. Due to changes in hormone levels, patients may experience symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings. Sweating is often paroxysmal, especially at night or during periods of emotional distress. A diagnosis can usually be made based on the patient’s individual condition and estrogen testing.
4. Pheochromocytoma
Hypertension is the primary symptom, accompanied by sweating, tachycardia, and headaches. Metabolic disturbances manifest as emaciation, heat intolerance, and weight loss. Tumors are typically large and palpable in the abdomen. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and the presence of tumors on imaging studies.
treat
Expected treatment
The principle and goal of treating profuse sweating is to alleviate the patient’s sweating symptoms while addressing the underlying cause. Treatment varies depending on the cause but generally includes medication, lifestyle adjustments, and, if necessary, surgery.
Treatment of the cause
1. Heatstroke
First, move the patient to a cool, ventilated area, loosen tight clothing, and let the patient lie down to rest. Then, apply ice packs to the head, neck, and armpits to lower body temperature. At the same time, wipe the body with a wet towel to promote heat dissipation. If the patient experiences dehydration, intravenous infusion of normal saline, glucose solution, etc. can be used to replenish the necessary water and nutrients. The patient’s body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate need to be closely monitored throughout the treatment process until vital signs return to normal.
2. Hyperthyroidism
Drugs such as methimazole and propylthiouracil are used to inhibit the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones. Radioactive iodine therapy can also be used to destroy part of the thyroid tissue. In severe cases, subtotal thyroidectomy can be performed to remove most of the thyroid tissue.
3. Menopausal syndrome
Hormone supplements such as estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate are primarily used to supplement hormones and alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating. Psychological counseling can also be provided to help women in the menopausal transition understand the physiological process of the menopausal transition and adapt to it with an optimistic attitude. If necessary, appropriate sedatives can be used to aid sleep, such as taking estazolam before bed.
4. Pheochromocytoma
Resection of the pheochromocytoma is the preferred treatment. During surgery, the doctor will choose the appropriate surgical approach based on the tumor’s location and size. For patients who cannot undergo immediate surgery, alpha-blockers such as phenoxybenzamine and doxazosin may be used to control blood pressure and heart rate and alleviate symptoms.
Drug treatment
See treatment of cause for details.
Related drugs
Methimazole, propylthiouracil, estradiol valerate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, estazolam, phenoxybenzamine, doxazosin
Surgical treatment
See treatment of cause for details.
Treatment cycle
The treatment cycle is affected by factors such as the severity of the disease, treatment plan, treatment timing, age and physical condition, and may vary from person to person.
Estimated treatment costs
There may be significant individual differences in treatment costs, and the specific costs are related to the selected hospital, treatment plan, medical insurance policy, etc.