What Causes Excessive Sweating? Doctor Says Drinking Too Much Water May Be To Blame | HuffPost Life

This Could Be The Unexpected Cause Of Your Excessive Sweating

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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Frank van Groen / LOOK-foto via Getty Images

To stay healthy, it's important to replace the fluids we lose when we sweat, breathe and urinate by drinking water.

But a health expert has warned that many of us are are going over the top when it comes to hydration and actually drinking too.

According to Professor Mark Whiteley, a consultant vascular Surgeon at The Whiteley Clinic, London, the behaviour has led to a rise in people coming to see him at about hyperhidrosis - the excessive sweating condition.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Whiteley said hundreds of patients visit him each year suffering from hyperhidrosis. Many ask whether they can have their sweat glands removed, but in the majority of cases this is unnecessary.

The patients are simply drinking too much fluid.

"Lots of advertisers advertise water and say you have to drink two or three litres a day. That’s medically incorrect. If you go to intensive care you will be but on 1.5 litres of fluid per 24 hours," he said.

"If you drink more, your kidneys have to work extra hard to get rid of this fluid load. Then you sweat it out, which makes people sweat even more."

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According to Whiteley, we should focus on drinking when we're thirsty, rather than drinking because we're sweating.

However, he does note that there are people who suffer from hyperhidrosis which is not linked to their fluid intake. These people may require treatment beyond cutting down on liquids. They should see thier GP for further advice.

Whiteley isn't the first medical expert to suggest that drinking too much water can have a detrimental affect on health.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Dr. Margaret McCartney previous referred to the health recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water per day as "thoroughly debunked nonsense".

She said drinking too much water can be dangerous as it causes low blood sodium levels (a condition called hyponatraemia) and exposes people to pollutants in the water.

"People still think that we're all going to die or our kidneys will shrivel up if we don't drink eight cups of water a day," she added.

"From what I can see, there's never been any evidence in the medical literature about it."

Currently, the NHS and the European Food Safety Authority recommend that women should drink about 1.6 litres of fluid and men should drink about 2.0 litres of fluid per day.

That's about eight glasses of 200ml each for a woman, and 10 glasses of 200ml each for a man.

However, the amount of liquid a person needs to drink will vary depending on factors such as whether they are exercising and what the weather is like.

Normal Vs. Abnormal Sweating

Amount Of Sweat(01 of16)

The volume or amount you sweat can be a giveaway when it comes to normal vs. abnormal sweating. Everyone sweats a certain amount a day, but if you are excessively sweating you might be suffering from hyperhidrosis, in which the body's cooling mechanism is so overactive that it produces five times the amount of sweat that you need in order to maintain consistent body temperature. (credit:Getty Images)

How Annoying Is it?(02 of16)

Normal: Sweating being an occasional inconvenience.Abnormal: Sweating negatively impacting the overall quality of your life.

When Are You Sweating?(03 of16)

Normal: Sweating while exercising.Abnormal: Sweating profusely when sitting in a cold room, watching TV.

How Are Your Clothes Doing?(04 of16)

Normal: Staining clothes because of sweat while exercising.Abnormal: Staining clothes with sweat while sitting in a temperature-controlled room.

Do You Keep Your Cool At Work?(05 of16)

Abnormal: If sweating is interfering with work and your overall professionalism.

Do Your Friends Notice?(06 of16)

Abnormal: If sweating is impacting your social life. If on a daily basis, you are not hugging someone or refuse to shake hands due to sweat.

Seasonal Changes(07 of16)

Normal: When temperatures rise -- for any reason -- the sweat glands kick in to produce more sweat. This is why we sweat more in the summer.Abnormal: Sweating regardless of the heat (year round).

Bedtime(08 of16)

Abnormal: Sweating while sleeping is abnormal.

Mental Health State(09 of16)

Normal: Sweating with anxiety.Abnormal: Sweating when calm.

Something You Ate?(10 of16)

Normal: Sweating while consuming spicy food.Abnormal: Sweating while eating ice cream.

It's Impossible to Keep Clothes Dry(11 of16)

Excessive underarm sweating is called axillary hyperhidrosis. One clue as to whether you have the condition is the way you dress. If you don't want to wear light- or bright-colored tops because you're afraid that the stains from your underarm sweating will be too obvious, or you avoid delicate fabrics such as silk because you're afraid they'll get ruined, you're likely dealing with excessive underarm sweat. Men with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to keep their suit jackets on, even when it's warm, because they're afraid that people will see sweat rings around their armpits on their shirts. (credit:Alamy)

You Can't Stop Thinking About It(12 of16)

When you have underarm hyperhidrosis, many times it's difficult to think about anything else. You worry that others will notice that your shirt is always soaked, thanks to excessive underarm sweat. You may become self-conscious and begin to withdraw, avoiding physical contact with other people. You may even be reluctant to dance at parties or work out at the gym for fear it will make your excessive sweating worse. (credit:Getty Images)

Deodorants Don't Do Enough(13 of16)

If you're experiencing excessive underarm sweating, ordinary over-the-counter deodorants won't work, no matter how often you apply them. You might have some success with antiperspirants that have a high concentration of aluminum chloride, which binds to, and therefore blocks, sweat glands, but at times even that isn't enough. Asking your doctor for a prescription-strength antiperspirant is the next step. Some people who sweat too much have success with prescription antiperspirant, but occasionally further treatment is necessary, notes Jacob DeLaRosa, MD, chief of cardiac and endovascular surgery at Idaho State University's Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.. (credit:Getty Images)

You're Sweating For No Reason(14 of16)

You expect to sweat when you work out or when you're about to give a big speech in front of a large audience, but if your armpits drip for no clear reason — breaking out in a heavy sweat any time of the day or night — you're likely experiencing symptoms of excessive sweating, or underarm hyperhidrosis.People with underarm hyperhidrosis are also likely to sweat profusely from other parts of the body, such as their hands, feet, and groin — areas where sweat glands are highly concentrated, says Charles Griff, MD, a dermatologist and medical director of the Dermatology Depot Med Spa in West Palm Beach, Fla. Hyperhidrosis of the palms is known as palmar hyperhidrosis. When you have this condition, you may have difficulty holding a pen or pencil and writing, driving a car, and using a computer keyboard, all because your hands are slippery. (credit:Getty Images)

You Shower All the Time(15 of16)

Underarm hyperhidrosis has nothing to do with hygiene, says Dr. DeLaRosa. Nonetheless, people with hyperhidrosis find they soak through their shirts soon after putting them on, so they shower constantly and change their clothes several times a day. This may keep you dry temporarily, but when you have hyperhidrosis, showering frequently, even with strong soaps and shower gels, won't stop the problem. But talking to your doctor or dermatologist about treatment will, says DeLaRosa. (credit:Getty Images)

You're Sloshing In Your Shoes(16 of16)

Some people with excessive underarm sweat also have plantar hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating of the soles of the feet. When your feet sweat too much, your socks and shoes get wet, leaving you feeling as if you've stepped in a puddle. You can become embarrassed about taking off your shoes and socks in public places, like the locker room at the gym or the shoe store, in part because of the ensuing odor. You may have crossed sandals off your wardrobe list because your feet are too slippery, and walking barefoot can be a problem when wet footprints get left behind. (credit:Alamy)

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