Posted by dj on June 26, 2000, at 23:04:45
In reply to Wellbutrin and sweating, anyone? Oh nooooooo..., posted by shar on June 26, 2000, at 20:59:33
> I'm on BOTH and sweat up a storm plus I live in Texas, plus I hope to have some job interviews sometime soon. I have this image of sweat running down my neck, while I tell them about my experience in writing and editing. ARRGGGGHHHH!
>
Soaking in Sweat?
I sweat too much! If my armpits were waterfalls they would rival Iguazu in Argentina. Is there anything I can do with my diet, or are there supplements that I can take to reduce the constant flow of sweat? I avoid wearing dark business shirts and I cringe when I have to remove my jacket. My sweat spots in my shirts on certain days can extend down to my elbows. Doctors have told me I have active glands and I have to live with it. I find coffee aggravates it. Is this a symptom of hypertension or being overweight? It has worsened over the past five years.
-- Anonymous
(Published 9/11/97) The technical term for your condition is hyperhidrosis, and it is indeed the result of especially active glands. Sweating is the way your body releases excess heat. But some people perspire more than others.Excessive sweating isn't necessarily a symptom of hypertension, but it can be associated with being overweight because excess weight means you're exerting yourself more for routine activities like walking. Heavy perspiration also can be caused by certain medications. Sometimes it can be a symptom of an underlying systemic disorder, such as hyperthyroidism.
See if you can pinpoint just when you sweat the most. Is it after physical exertion, or when you're exposed to high temperatures? Or is it a response to stressful situations, such as business meetings or a particularly taxing schedule? If it's the latter, work on training your body to react less intensely to the situation.
I would definitely avoid coffee, tea and other stimulants. They increase the activity of apocrine sweat glands -- special glands in hairy parts of the body that produce strong-smelling, musky secretions. These drugs arouse your body's fight-or-flight response, increasing any anxiety you may already have. Do drink lots of water, because you're going to need to replenish the fluid you've lost.
Avoid environmental stimuli that can trigger your sympathetic nervous system into an alarm response -- such as loud music, lots of interruptions at work (try closing the door) or even annoying people who get on your nerves (we all know some of those!). Practice my breathing exercise, especially when you feel yourself getting tense. You may also want to try meditation. And be sure to keep up your exercise. You're lucky -- sweat is sort of a badge of honor among the fitness crowd because people in good shape tend to sweat more. Their bodies have been trained to cool themselves efficiently.
If you think stress may be part of the problem, biofeedback is an excellent way to learn how to relax your sympathetic nervous system and lower tension in your body. I also would try hypnosis or go to a Chinese medical practitioner to see if they can help.
You also may be losing quite a bit of zinc with your sweat -- as much as 3 mg a day. Zinc is important for protein and DNA synthesis, blood stability and brain and immune function. You may want to take 30 milligrams of zinc a day to compensate.
For more and perhaps something more specific to AD reactions:
http://www.pathfinder.com/drweil/BTW, what sort or writing and editing do you do?
poster:dj
thread:38330
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/38389.html