How to Stop Excessive Sweating

Perspiration is the moisture given off by the skin from activity of the sweat glands. The characteristic odour of sweat is caused by the breakdown, or decomposition, of the sweat by bacteria. Perspiration is regulated by the Sympathetic Nervous System, which controls about five million sweat glands in a body. About half of those glands are located in the hands.

Sweating is normal, everyone does it and everyone should. It is the body's way of getting rid of toxins in your body. It is a physiological process that our body uses for defensive purposes and is a natural phenomenon in our body just like when our stomachs digest food and when we breathe.

Hyperhidrosis is the medical name for excessive sweating and is a medical condition that causes perspiration far greater than the physiological needs of the body. Hyperhidrosis is basically the medical name for overactive sweat glands, and is a fairly rare condition that affects about 3% of all humans. It mainly comes in the form of excessive underarm sweating and problems tend to start in late adolescence, while palm and sole sweating often begins earlier, around the age 13 (on average). Untreated, these problems may continue throughout life and for those who do suffer from this condition, life can be very hard.

The good news is that medical experts have found excessive sweating to be not a serious threat to life. Medical conditions like heart and lung disease, anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus and certain medications are triggers of secondary hyperhidrosis. It is important that you understand the causes of your excessive sweating to know how to stop excessive sweating. Medically known as hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating can happen due to natural reasons or because of some other underlying condition. In either case, excessive sweating is not only cause social embarrassment due to the strong odour, but can cause further anxiety and stress.