Sweating

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Skin layers

Sweating is the release of a salty liquid from the body's sweat glands. This process is also called perspiration.

Sweating is an essential function that helps the body stay cool. Sweat is commonly found under the arms, on the feet, and on the palms of the hands.

Perspiration

How much you sweat depends on how many sweat glands you have. A person is born with about two to four million sweat glands. The glands start to become fully active during puberty. Women actually have more sweat glands then men -- the men's glands are just more active.

Because sweating is the body's natural way of regulating temperature, people sweat more in when it's hot outside. People also sweat more when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

If sweating is accompanied by fever, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a rapid, pounding heartbeat, talk to a doctor. These symptoms may indicate an underlying problem, such as hyperthyroidism. Excessive sweating may also be a symptom of menopause.

See also:

• Sweating - absent
• Sweating - excessive

• Warm temperatures
• Fever
• Menopause
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Low blood sugar
• Infection
• Cancer
• Emotional or stressful situations (anxiety)
• Exercise
• Spicy foods (known as "gustatory sweating")
• Drugs, including thyroid hormone, morphine, antipyretics (drugs to reduce fevers), and medicines to treat mental disorders
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Withdrawal from alcohol or narcotic pain killers

Review Date: 05/12/2005
Reviewed By: Tarun Jain, M.D., Endocrinology & Infertility Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.