SWEATING isn’t just an inconvenience we must suffer due to being anxious about a job interview or running for the bus.
It can occur for various reasons, including exercise, suffering from a fever, hot weather and nervousness.
Brits are set to bask in glorious temperatures today, as the mercury hits 28C in some spots.
As the warm weather sweeps across the UK, it’s important to stay hydrated and avoid spending too much time in the sun.
However, this does not mean we should avoid sweating at all costs.
Experts have revealed that this bodily function actually has a positive impact on our skin and on our bodies.
Sweat prevents our bodies from overheating
The primary reason we sweat is to regulate our body temperature.
“[Sweat] serves an important function of effectively cooling our body,” says Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Art of Skin MD in San Diego.
Detoxifies the body
Research shows that sweat glands help our skin filter toxins out of the body, like alcohol and waste products, which in turn boost our immune system.
A 2016 study showed that fitness fanatics had lower levels of heavy metals in their bodies, such as mercury or lead.
At high concentrations, such toxins can reduce energy levels and have damaging effects on organs.
Promotes clear and healthy skin
Sweat acts as natural protection from germs and bacteria. When we perspire, our pores open up. Dermatologist Dr. Viscusi explained: “Sweat [prompts] your pores to flush out oil and dirt.
“When sweat collects and dries on the skin, this dirt, oil, and bacteria can become trapped under your skin, therefore causing breakouts.”
Secondly, sweat helps healthy skin by increasing your blood flow.
Efficient circulation ensures skin cells get nourished with the nutrients and oxygen they need.
What causes excessive sweating?
While most cases of excessive sweating is harmless, there are some instances where the condition should not be overlooked. There are many possibilties, including a number of different medical conditions and diseases. They include:
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Anxiety
- Menopause
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alcoholism
- Cancers like lymphoma and leukemia
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Drug use
Helps with weight loss
Sweating can speed up the loss of water weight in your body, hence why boxers take to the sauna before a match to accelerate the weight loss process.
Robert A. Huggins, Ph.D., president of research and athlete performance and safety at the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut explains while you technically lose weight from sweating, the change is only temporary: “It’s not fat mass, which is the weight most people have the goal of losing.”
Some evidence suggests that a sweatier individual during exercise means they are having a more intense workout.
Because your body is working hard to you down, you’re also using energy and burning calories.
It is also a sign of good cardiovascular health.
Excessive sweating: signs you should see a doctor
- Sudden changes: if your sweating is increasing or if an outbreak of excessive sweating started after starting on a new drug
- Night sweats: if you’re waking up in a cold sweat or you find your pillowcase and sheets damp in the morning
- Generalized sweating: if you’re sweating all over your body, and not just from your head, face, underarms, groin, hands or feet
- Asymmetrical sweating: if you’re only sweating from one side of your body
- Sweating accompanied by other symptoms: such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue or insomnia
Lowers risk of kidney stones
Sweat glands release water to the surface of your skin.
So, less water in the body equals fewer times you’ll want to use the bathroom.
This means there’s less chance for kidney stone-causing material to sit in the kidneys and urinary tract.
In turn, we drink more water when we sweat which means these minerals are flushed out of our system.
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Source: The Sun
