Image by Toni Blay via Flickr The condition most we know as “sweaty palms" goes by the scientific name of “Palmar Hyperhidrosis”. It is embarrassing, annoying, life changing and, believe it or not, a much more common problem than you might think. The medical community estimates that about 3% of the population suffers from excessive sweating. That means that there are over 9 million people in the US alone with this condition.
The really off putting problem of this affliction is just how public it is. While we may well be embarrassed if our shirts "sweat out," at least we can cover up with a jacket or sweater. But, short of consistently wearing gloves (and some people do), there is no way to cover up sweaty hands except by keeping them out of sight in our pockets.
Technically, there are two different types of hyperhidrosis; primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis most often begins in early adolescence, or perhaps even earlier, and appears to be an inherited genetic trait. Secondary hyperhidrosis can appear at any point in life and is thought to have a number of different causes including thyroid or pituitary gland disorders. Research continues on the exact causes.
The causes of primary hyperhidrosis remains unclear but some researchers believe it may be caused by over activity of the sympathetic nervous system. It is also recognized that emotional anxiety can increase the problem as can some foods, smells, caffeine, and nicotine.
If there is any good news to all this it is that, although the causes are not fully understood, the physical condition itself can be successfully treated.
Depending on the severity of the condition, there is a wide range of treatments available. Some drug based treatments are effective but have unwanted side effects. There is also a surgical option which snips the sympathetic nerve but is expensive and all surgeries have risk.
Fortunately, there is a far more practical cure you can manage yourself in the privacy of your own home for very little cost.
No comments:
Post a Comment