sweating attacks
August 19, 2011 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
I am male, 30 years old, 186cm tall, 86kg heavy. I have been doing sports on average 2 times a week for ten years, so I would consider myself moderately fit.
My problem: I often have sweat attacks/breakouts or sweat excessively. The sweat usually feels cold. Often I only sweat on my head (forehead, nose, neck, upper lip), often also on my back, armpits, and between my legs. I have had this for a few years, both in summer and winter, so regardless of the outside temperature, and it is getting worse.
I suspect that it has to do with blood sugar, because if I eat too little (?), I have a sweat outbreak with the slightest exertion (running up 10 stairs). In addition, I turn pale in the face. The effort doesn't even have to be physical, a short moment of mental stress is enough for the sweat to break out. To avoid these situations, I eat (too) much and often. Slowly, however, I am developing a belly due to overeating. If I have a full stomach (preferably carbohydrates), the chance of having a sweat outbreak significantly decreases. However, it cannot be ruled out even then. The other situation where I sweat in the same way is during sports: I turn pale, the sweat is cold, even though I am actually fit in terms of conditioning.
For the past few months, it has been getting worse and now I even start sweating when I wake up in the morning. A hearty breakfast - and preferably no movement beforehand! - is now an absolute MUST, otherwise I could hardly leave the house. I think these are not good signs, so my questions are:
1. What could it be? Blood sugar/diabetes? Hormone/enzyme balance? Heart/circulation?
2. What kind of doctor should I see and what tests should I have done accordingly?
Dear Inquirer,
thank you for providing a detailed description of your problem.
Based on your observations, you are most likely inclined to attribute your sweating to hypoglycemia.
1. While it is true that low blood sugar can lead to sweating, the blood sugar level would need to drop very quickly or very low for this to occur. Although I consider this possibility to be unlikely, it would be best to have this checked by a "diabetologist" (which can be a general practitioner or internist with the corresponding additional qualification). A blood sugar profile will be created and evaluated in relation to food intake. (Usually, you will be provided with a blood sugar meter on which you can determine and record the values at any time after receiving instructions. This can establish a connection with diabetes, or not.
2. It could also be a dysfunction in the regulation of the sweat glands (hyperhidrosis). These hyperhidroses can be either congenital or acquired. They can be purely organic in nature, but can also be triggered by psychological influences.
Accordingly, there are many medical specialties that deal with this problem. I would recommend that if diabetes is not confirmed, you should visit a dermatologist for testing on sweat secretion or specific provocations to induce sweating.
3. But first, see your general practitioner. Through an initial general check-up, ideally including blood tests, other causes (such as tuberculosis, tumors, or disorders in the cortisol balance) should be ruled out before the specific investigation. If the suspicion of a cause related to sugar metabolism is not confirmed there, you may be referred directly to a dermatology clinic. However, it is crucial to rule out that your sweating is just a symptom of a more serious underlying condition or chronic infection.
Best wishes,
R. Berg
