Perspiration probably isn’t your favorite bodily function. Who likes being sticky and smelly? We go to great lengths to try and minimize the impact of sweat, from washing regularly to using antiperspirant deodorant. It’s still a vital process, however, and something the body does need to do. It’s also closely linked to hydration.
Sweat, more formally known as perspiration, is produced by millions of glands found in the skin. There are two types of sweat glands, the eccrine glands that produce watery sweat all over the body and the apocrine glands responsible for the oilier sweat mostly found in the armpits. This sweat doesn’t smell in its own right, but it can develop an odor thanks to the presence of bacteria.
So why exactly does the body produce this unpleasant substance? Well, the main reason is thermoregulation. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s about controlling the body’s temperature. When you’re too hot (whether because of exercise or climate), perspiration is released from the eccrine glands. The heat then causes this watery substance to evaporate, which has a cooling effect on the body.
Different people will naturally sweat different amounts. This could be because we have more or fewer sweat glands, because of body size (larger bodies often generate more heat, leading to more sweating), or because of genetics. Men tend to sweat more than women. Physically fit people often sweat more.
For the most part, sweat is composed of water, which explains its dehydrating qualities. It can also, however, contain various minerals like sodium and potassium, as well as lactic acid and other substances. That’s why, when you’ve been sweating, drinking water alone may not be enough. You need to top up those missing minerals as well.
It might be natural to sweat, and even beneficial on occasion, but some people do sweat to excess. Diaphoresis is the medical term for abnormal sweating. Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy or menopause, or due to hyperthyroidism, are often a contributing factor. It can be an early warning of low blood sugar for diabetics or a sign you’re having an allergic reaction. Sometimes sweating can even be a symptom of a much more serious condition, like a heart attack, in which case you need immediate medical attention.
Drinking more after sweating is important, but you should also know why we sweat and how it works.
