Heavy sweating or hyperhidrosis causes the body to sweat excessively for no apparent reason. People suffering from this condition may feel embarrassed, shy away, and avoid talking about it entirely. However, excessive sweating could be a symptom of a serious underlying condition. Let’s take a look at seven reasons why heavy sweating occurs.

1. Menopause
Menopause causes hot flashes, which, in turn, induces excessive sweating. This is because the rise and fall in hormonal levels cause the body to feel hot, which triggers a cooling response resulting in heavy sweating. There are various ways to cool down during menopause, including eating cold foods, avoiding spicy foods, drinking plenty of water, and lounging near an open window, fan, or air conditioner.

2. Certain medication
Medication-induced hyperhidrosis is one of the leading causes of the condition. Medication used to treat certain cancers, diabetes, migraines, and conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s disease can cause excessive sweating. Hyperhidrosis stops when one stops using the medication. However, one must not stop taking any medication without consulting a doctor first.

3. Certain infections and diseases
Medical conditions such as tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, cancer, and spinal cord injuries may lead to excessive sweating. People dealing with anxiety disorders may also sweat excessively. However, experts believe that it is not related to hyperhidrosis. Nonetheless, the two conditions can occur together.

4. Diabetes
When a person has diabetes, their system fails to manage their body temperature. Moreover, when their blood sugar levels are low, their body responds by triggering the secretion of certain chemicals like adrenaline which leads to excessive sweating. Sweating may also be triggered due to neuropathy that is caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels. Frequent hyperhidrosis due to diabetes indicates that the condition is not managed efficiently.

5. Heart attack
Excessive sweating is one of the common signs of a heart attack. When the blood flow to the heart is cut off, the body reacts by producing excessive sweat. Moreover, symptoms like shortness of breath and pain in the arms, chest, and back are seen. If one notices any of these symptoms, they must seek medical help immediately.

6. Obesity
Overweight people tend to sweat more because they tend to feel fatigued even while performing day-to-day tasks. Because their bodies work harder, they need to produce more sweat to cool their bodies off. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help shed a few pounds and get rid of hyperhidrosis.

7. Thyroid problems
Hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of the hormone thyroxine. Due to this, one may experience excessive sweating, weight loss, and fatigue. This is a serious condition that can cause further problems such as heart disease and brittle bones. Therefore, one must always get checked in case of excessive sweating.