Sweating is the body response to heat in order to stay cool by secreting fluid via the sweat glands. It happens when the body is producing heat or when it is exposed to heat. By releasing moisture onto the skin, heat is released out of the body. Your body also sweats in response to stress.
What is anhidrosis?
Anhidrosis simply means lack of sweating. It is a condition when a person cannot sweat when exposed to heat. It doesn’t sound serious but it can potentially be life-threatening if left untreated. When a person suffering from anhidrosis is overexposed to heat, his body cannot regulate its temperature thus the body will overheat.
Anhidrosis may often go unrecognized. Some diseases and underlying disorders can cause anhidrosis. Some medications can also affect how the body respond to heat. Due to the many possible causes of anhidrosis, it is difficult to diagnose.
Common causes of anhidrosis
– Head injury, heatstroke, hysteria, and some neurologic disorders like Guillain-Barre syndome can cause anhidrosis.
– Dehydration
– Diabetes
– Burns
– Trauma to sweat glands like exfoliative dermatritis
– Prematurely born babies are usually not able to sweat normally due to under developed nerve systems.
– Certain medicationss are known to cause anhidrosis. Some of them include heart and blood pressure medications, nausea, and psychiatric medications.
The symptoms of anhidrosis
– Lack or absence of sweating
– Dizziness
– Muscle cramps and fatigue
– Irregular or rapid heart beat
– In severe cases, the symptoms include hallucination or even coma.
The Treatments of anhidrosis
Treatments aren’t necessary if it only affects a part of your body. If you hardly sweat even when you work or exercise in high intensity, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will treat the cause of anhidrosis because there are no specific treatments to anhidrosis.
Some of these treatments can help relieve the problems caused by anhidrosis
– Drink plenty of water
– Drink juices or electrolyte drinks when working out
– Avoid caffeine or alcohol since it can cause dehydration
– Exercise in air conditioned room
– Wear an appropriate outfit for exercise
To treat heat cramps:
– Don’t ignore any stress symptoms like muscle cramping, nausea, dizziness, or fatigue.
– Gently massage the cramped muscles when it happens
– Get medical help if muscle cramping persists
Heat exhaustion or heat stroke:
– Remove the clothing that to let the body release heat easily
– Move the person to a cool place
– Spray the skin with water and wrap some wet towels on it
Source by Julian Hee