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Sweating is a completely normal process and an important way your body maintains a consistent temperature. However, if you find that you sweat much more often than seems appropriate, you may have hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis causes sweating in the absence of physical activity or stress. Sweating when your body is not actively trying to regulate your body temperature is the number one symptom of hyperhidrosis. A common sign that a person suffers from hyperhidrosis is when excessive sweating begins to cause problems in your everyday life. Many people with hyperhidrosis struggle with the issue on a daily basis. If you find yourself needing to change your clothes throughout the day in order to hide your excessive sweating, you may suffer from hyperhidrosis. Having to do things like stuffing napkins under your arms or excusing yourself to the bathroom to wipe off excess sweat in comfortable environments is not common and may be a sign of hyperhidrosis. Primary hyperhidrosis is excess sweating that exists independently from any other medical condition. If your body simply sweats to excess, you likely have primary hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs when your body is sweating excessively as a result of, or as a symptom of, another medical condition. Primary hyperhidrosis often affects certain areas of the body that are referred to as "focal points" like armpits or hands. Secondary hyperhidrosis is often more generalized. A common example of secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive night sweating from your entire body. It is important to determine if you are suffering from primary or secondary hyperhidrosis in order to effectively treat the condition. You should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your circumstances, but there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you identify which form of hyperhidrosis you seem to be suffering. If you meet any two of the following criteria, you likely have primary hyperhidrosis. If not, your sweating issues are likely secondary in nature. Your sweating is fairly symmetrical (you sweat the same from each side of your body). You experience at least one episode of excessive sweating per week. Your excess sweating impairs your regular activities. Your issues with excess sweating began before the age of 25. Primary hyperhidrosis runs in your family. You do not have excessive sweat issues when you are sleeping. If you are taking an inventory of your excessive sweating symptoms and you notice some common warning signs of a significant medical issue, seek medical attention as quickly as you can. Seek medical attention if you have a fever that reaches 104F (40C) or higher. If you experience shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or chest pain, seek treatment immediately.
Look for abnormal sweating. Take note if your sweating affects you socially. Identify primary and secondary hyperhidrosis. Determine which form of hyperhidrosis you have. Seek immediate medical attention if necessary.