sweat has an important meaning for the human organism, even if it is often perceived as unpleasant in warmth and physical exercise.
However, sweat is perceived as annoying by most people and can be combated by various means. Excessive sweat production is not only stressful, but can also be the first sign of illness.
What is sweating?
The doctor describes sweat as the expulsion of a clear body secretion from the sweat glands of the same name. There are two types of sweat glands distributed over the body. The secreted fluids differ from each other in appearance and function.
Eccrine sweat glands are distributed all over the body in humans. The sweat produced is colorless and odorless and consists of 99% water. It also contains lactate, urea and amino acids as well as various electrolytes. Anyone who has licked their lips after sweaty activities knows about the acidic pH value of sweat. The value is around 4.5.
Apocrine sweat glands, on the other hand, are located in the genital and armpit area as well as the area of the nipples. These secrete an almost pH-neutral, rather milky secretion, which contains lipids and proteins.
The typical smell of sweat does not exist in fresh sweat and only arises when fatty acids are broken down. Various endogenous bacteria are responsible for this. However, due to hormonal factors, fresh sweat can develop its own odor in adolescents. As a rule, however, this phenomenon stops at the end of puberty.
Function & task
The task of sweating is on the one hand to regulate temperature, on the other hand sweat has a signaling effect in different situations. In addition, substances are transported out of the body through sweating.
Sweating - known as perspiration - has the function of regulating body temperature and releasing heat. The sweat layer on the skin cools you down and protects against overheating. That is why profuse sweating is normal in midsummer.
On average, people lose up to 200 ml of sweat a day at normal temperatures and without physical exertion. The eccrine glands can produce up to 14 liters of sweat per day. Therefore, increased fluid intake is essential at high temperatures or exercise in order to compensate for fluid loss and prevent circulatory problems.
The normal evaporation on the surface of the skin, paired with the breathable air, which is saturated with water vapor, causes a daily loss of fluid of up to one liter of water per day. The body also produces invisible sweat that keeps the skin moist and is responsible for maintaining the skin's protective acid mantle.
Another task of sweat is its signaling effect. Sexual fragrances (pheromones) are transported outwards when you sweat. These fragrances are said to promote sexual arousal in the partner and thus benefit reproduction. To date, however, it has not been proven to what extent this ability is still pronounced.
However, the effect of sweat production has been shown to have an impact on the behavior of people in the immediate vicinity. For example, sweat of fear is said to trigger compassion in others. According to researchers, test subjects behaved more cautiously towards those affected in a test run.
Another signaling effect of sweating is caused by stress. In stressful situations, the body expels sweat, which contains adrenaline. The processes that are taking place in the body meanwhile lead to higher performance of the muscles. The apocrine sweat glands are also involved in emotional stress reactions that lead to sweating. According to scientists, the apocrine rumors that are emitted control non-verbal communication.
In some cases, however, profuse sweating can indicate an imbalance in the body or illness. Excessive perspiration should be discussed with a doctor.
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➔ Drugs against sweating and sweatingIllnesses & ailments
Every body is different. Increased sweat production does not always have to have physical causes. It can be hormonal or emotional. However, profuse sweating is also a possible symptom of various diseases.
The term for this abnormality is hyperhidrosis. This can occur on the one hand only during the day, but on the other hand also as night sweats. In some cases there is no recognizable physical cause behind hyperhidrosis. Nevertheless, it is perceived as stressful for those affected and triggers psychological stress in everyday life, which can intensify the symptoms.
It looks similar with night sweats. It can also have harmless causes. In addition to high room temperature, stress and anxiety are always the reason for night sweats. Occasionally, those affected have to change their clothes or even bed linen and sheets at night without knowing a clear trigger.
Triggers can be disturbed sleep habits, hormonal changes or medication. But also infectious diseases, tuberculosis, some autoimmune diseases or various tumors are associated with night sweats. As a rule, however, there are other symptoms that indicate the said diseases. In general, increased sweating can also indicate thyroid disorders, anxiety and nerve disorders, and other metabolic disorders.
In addition, cold sweats can be a serious alarm signal. If sudden, cold sweats occur together with radiating chest pain, shortness of breath and nausea, the 911 should be called immediately. This can be a heart attack where every second counts.
Depending on the accompanying symptoms, it always makes sense to consult a doctor if you sweat excessively. Very often harmless causes are the reason. A conversation with the patient is often enough to make an initial guess. On a case-by-case basis, the doctor will consult other specialists to combat the symptoms. In addition to the survey, an overall physical check is useful to rule out various illnesses.
↳ More information: 10 tips against sweating
