What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to higher temperatures or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands.

Causes and Symptoms

Sweating is your body’s mechanism to cool itself. Your nervous system automatically triggers your sweat glands when your body temperature rises. Sweating also normally occurs, especially on your palms, when you’re nervous. In hyperhidrosis the nerves responsible for triggering your sweat glands become overactive and call for more perspiration even when it’s not needed. With stress or nervousness, the problem becomes even worse.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hyperhidrosis is usually made with clinical history and symptoms and in some cases lab tests may be required to rule out over active thyroid (Hyperthyroidism) and low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia).