Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. There are two types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating not caused by an underlying medical problem; secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by a medical problem.
This post focuses on the medical problems that cause excessive sweating.
Which Medical Problems Cause Excessive Sweating?
Several medical problems have excessive sweating as one of their symptoms. Here are a few examples:
Hyperthyroidism
When your thyroid gland generates too much of the hormone thyroxine, you get hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Your body’s metabolism may speed up due to hyperthyroidism, resulting in unexpected weight loss and a swift or erratic heartbeat. Additionally, excessive sweating is another symptom.
There are numerous therapies for hyperthyroidism. Medical professionals employ radioactive iodine and anti-thyroid drugs to reduce the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Surgery to remove all or a portion of your thyroid gland may be required as part of hyperthyroidism treatment.
Even though hyperthyroidism can be dangerous if ignored, once it has been identified and treated, most patients recover successfully.
Acromegaly
A hormonal disease called acromegaly happens when your pituitary gland overproduces growth hormone as an adult.
Your bones enlarge if you have too much growth hormone. It might cause gigantism among children. It causes the enlarging of hands, feet, and faces among adults.
High levels of growth hormone can have effects on your bones in addition to other body parts if left untreated. Serious health issues may result, perhaps even life-threatening ones. However, treatment can significantly improve your symptoms, including the growth of your features, and lower your chance of problems.
Excessive sweating is one of the many signs and symptoms of acromegaly. Additional signs include body odor, thicker and greasy skin, loud snoring, and more.
Diabetic Hypoglycemia
When a person with diabetes doesn’t have enough glucose (sugar) in their blood, they experience diabetic hypoglycemia. Diabetic hypoglycemia’s initial warning signs and symptoms include:
- Paleness (pallor)
- Shakiness
- Unsteadiness or faintness
- Excessive sweating
- Hunger or sickness
- A rapid or erratic heartbeat
- Difficulty paying attention
- Feeling exhausted and drained (fatigue)
- Irritation or worry
- Headache
- Lips, tongue, or cheek tingling or numbness
Leukemia
Cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, such as the lymphatic system and bone marrow, is known as leukemia.
Different types of leukemia exist. Some kinds of leukemia are more common in children. The majority of cases of other leukemias affect adults.
Leukemia typically attacks white blood cells. Your white blood cells are powerful anti-infection agents, and when your body needs them, they usually multiply and divide in an orderly manner. However, the bone marrow produces excessive abnormal, defective white blood cells in leukemia patients.
Leukemia therapy may be challenging depending on leukemia and other factors.
There are a variety of leukemia symptoms, depending on the type. Common leukemia symptoms and warning signs include:
- Cold or fever
- Persistent fatigue
- Severe or persistent infections
- Extreme weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes, the liver, or the spleen
- Simple bruising or bleeding
- Incessant nosebleeds
- Red little skin lesions (petechiae)
- Excessive perspiration, particularly during the night
- Aching bones
Malaria
A parasite is responsible for the illness of malaria. Infected mosquito bites transmit the parasite to people. Malaria sufferers typically feel extremely miserable, with a high fever and shivering chills.
Malaria “attack” typically begins with shaking and chills, progresses to a high fever, is followed by sweating and a return to average temperature, and then repeats itself in some persons with the disease.
Malaria signs and symptoms usually appear within a few weeks of being bit by an infected mosquito, while others can remain dormant in your body for up to a year.
Pheochromocytoma
A pheochromocytoma (pronounced “fee-o-kroe-moe-sy-TOE-muh”) is a usually benign and rare tumor in the adrenal gland. Each kidney’s top is home to one of your two adrenal glands. The body’s endocrine system, which produces hormones, includes the adrenal glands.
A pheochromocytoma often only affects one adrenal gland. However, both can form malignancies.
When you have a pheochromocytoma, the tumor releases hormones that could result in symptoms of a panic attack, like increased blood pressure, headache, and sweating. Other body systems may suffer severe or fatal harm if a pheochromocytoma is not addressed.
Blood pressure typically returns to normal after a pheochromocytoma has been surgically removed.
Tuberculosis
A potentially dangerous infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs is tuberculosis (TB). People can contract tuberculosis from one another by coughing or sneezing tiny droplets of bacteria into the air.
TB comes in two forms:
Latent TB: You have a TB infection, but your body’s bacteria are dormant, not causing any symptoms. It’s not communicable to have latent TB, commonly known as inactive TB or TB infection. Treatment is crucial because latent TB might develop into active TB.
Active TB, often known as TB disease, causes illness and, in most cases, can spread to other people. It might happen shortly after TB bacterial infection or years later.
Active TB symptoms and signs include:
- Coughing for three weeks or longer
- Bleeding or mucous when coughing
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty, or coughing pain
- Unintentional loss of weight
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Excessive sweating nightly
- Chills
- Reduced appetite
How Kay Dermatology Treats Excessive Sweating
Many other underlying medical problems cause excessive sweating. But whether your hyperhidrosis is primary or secondary, Kay Dermatology can help you.
Our doctors have successfully treated hundreds of individuals with this challenging skin condition. Typically, we begin by using pure, powerful topical antiperspirants that are prescribed. If it doesn’t work, there are medicines to stop excessive sweating.
Some individuals choose to have Botox injected into their sweaty areas. This procedure is almost painless and can last up to six months.
Seek Treatment with Kay Dermatology
Kay Dermatology offers solutions for excessive sweating. Medical problems do not cause most cases of excessive sweating, but Kay Dermatology can help you even if your hyperhidrosis is secondary. It’s best to consult medical professionals to get the best treatment possible.
For inquiries about excessive sweating or to book a consultation, contact Kay Dermatology at 818-238-2350 or use our contact form.
