What Your Sweat Says About Your Health

Unless you’re actively exercising or spending time in the summer heat, you probably don’t think too often about your sweat. But people with hyperhidrosis (a.k.a. excessive sweating) don’t have the privilege of blissful ignorance. Picture this: You’re at a corporate conference, about to be introduced to a bigwig potential client, and you notice your palms are wet. You gingerly wipe your hands on your pants, trying not to look like you just emerged from a pool, only to realize your brow is breaking out in beads of perspiration, too. Not to mention your feet, your armpits, and even your genital area. Ugh, you think, I’m not even that nervous. Why am I sweating so much?

At best, excessive sweating is inconvenient. At worst, it’s downright embarrassing. There is a long list of reasons why some people sweat more than others–it could be genetic, but it may also be a sign of an underlying health issue. “We all sweat when we exercise, when we’re stressed, or when it’s really hot or humid out,” says Angela Ballard, R.N., educator and advocate with the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS) in Pipersville, PA. “That’s the sweating that we need to react to a situation. Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is sweating that is above and beyond what is necessary.” And in this case, your sweat could say something about your overall health.