Over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system may result in excessive perspiration. Individuals may experience excessive perspiration during routine times of social interaction, such as meeting friends for lunch or paying for purchases at a store. This excessive perspiration can lead to difficulties in social or professional life. One major problem occurs during the process of shaking hands. Because this is a common practice in our society, the condition can be hard to hide for people who suffer from hyperhidrosis.
Many people also describe a "burning sensation" medically known as hyperpyrexia that accompanies excessive sweating and excessive perspiration. These feelings of facial burning and tingling can become so uncomfortable that the individual's ability to concentrate and function is significantly compromised.
Why do we perspire?
Humans generate heat to keep the internal body temperature around 98 degrees, and this usually varies only by 4 degrees in either direction. The body creates this heat through normal metabolism, or breaking down food products for energy.
After the heat is created, around 90% is usually lost through the skin. Humans are able to control how much heat is lost through the skin by controlling the amount of blood that flows to the skin. If the blood flow to the skin is increased, more sweat is produced, and there is more heat exchange. An increase in perspiration helps this heat exchange.
Excessive perspiration can occur when there is a disruption in the balance of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the main control center for sweat glands. The sympathetic nervous system is a division of the autonomic nervous system. We do not have control over the autonomic nervous system, therefore we cannot generally control the amount of sweat we produce.
Treatment for Excessive Persipiration
There is treatment to stop excessive perspiration. This includes non-surgical treatment as well as surgical treatment of excessive perspiration with endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy.
Useful Links on Excessive Perspiration
