It is midsummer and the thermometer is rising. Temperatures are expected to be over 90 degrees this month, with humidity or discomfort levels of at least 105. It’s wet and sticky: Men will sweat, women will “glow,” and no matter what you call it, most we will perspire in this sizzling weather.
Why do we sweat?
Perspiration is an essential and natural biological process that begins shortly after birth. Sweating, or perspiring, is the body’s mechanism for keeping us cool and preventing us from overheating in a hot environment or during exercise or exertion. Our body also produces sweat when we experience strong emotions or stressful situations, during hormonal changes, and helps to play a role in fighting infection.
Sweat is the body’s main coolant and is a necessary “evil”. When your body begins to overheat, whether from exercise or high temperatures, your brain tells its 2.6 million sweat glands to kick in. It is the evaporation of moisture from your skin that cools your body (physics 101!).
It’s possible to sweat a gallon of sweat in an hour if you exercise at high intensity, and professional athletes can sweat twice that amount in the same amount of time.
It’s not just strenuous exercise or high temperatures that can induce perspiration. Some people sweat when they are nervous because the sweat glands are connected to our fight or flight mechanisms. This condition is known as hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating without a known cause or trigger, and secondary hyperhidrosis is triggered by specific signs, including anxiety or fear, and is considered a type of social phobia.
So now that we know what causes sweating, what can we do about it? Let’s tackle nervous perspiration first because, frankly, it sucks. It’s easy to care for if you wash with old soap and water and then apply antiperspirant, twice a day if necessary.
Did you know that you can use antiperspirants anywhere on your body, including the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet? Yes, you can, so apply antiperspirant generously anywhere you need to.
Exercise and heat-induced sweating require careful hydration, so sip, sip, and then sip a little more water. You may or may not feel thirsty, so remember your water bottle and refill the fluid that you are sweating. Dehydration is quite unpleasant and can lead to headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
The Science of Sweating in Brief
Stay away from intense heat if you can, wear light, breathable cotton clothing, and don’t exercise outside when the sun is high. What is the most important thing you can do when you are sweating? Drink your water, a lot!