Sweating much? Focus on Your Breathing and Stay Cool!

SudevHave you felt you sweat more than normal? Ever wonder why your hands become so slick with sweat? Have you ever experienced any discomfort or distraction from performing daily activities because of this excessive perspiration? If you have gone through any of these, know that you’re not alone. You may have a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Nearly 15.3 million people in the US may have this condition of excessive sweating, as suggested by a 2016 study.

Living with hyperhidrosis isn’t just about managing a physical condition; it’s about finding peace in your daily life. Excessive sweating can create uncomfortable situations, impact your social interactions, and even lead to anxiety, which often makes sweating worse. 

But what if I told you that focusing on your breathing is an effective way to manage hyperhidrosis? Sounds interesting, right? Let’s learn more about hyperhidrosis, its symptoms, causes, and risk factors, as well as how breathing better can help you manage this excessive sweating and stay cool.

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which a person sweats excessively, sometimes for no specific reason. If you find yourself sweating more than what your body requires to regulate your body temperature—even when at rest, in cold temperatures, or at totally random times when you don’t really expect to sweat—you might have this condition. 

Did you know that you have 2 to 4 million sweat glands in your body? Sweat glands are of 2 types: eccrine and apocrine. Most eccrine glands are located on the soles of your feet, palms, forehead, cheeks, and armpits. They secrete a clear, colorless, and odorless fluid that helps regulate body temperature, and this is the type of sweat involved in hyperhidrosis. On the other hand, apocrine glands, located mainly in the armpits and genital area, produce thicker sweat that is responsible for body odor. 

If you have hyperhidrosis, your sweat glands (eccrine glands in particular) overreact to various triggers—hormones, emotions, physical activity, and signals from the brain that the body is too hot—and produce more sweat than is necessary. It’s no wonder why the sweat glands of people with hyperhidrosis are always stuck in the “ON” position. 

Now, let’s take a look at the two types of hyperhidrosis:

While this condition seems like an uncomplicated disorder, it can be challenging to determine the difference between normal sweating and hyperhidrosis. This is mainly due to the unavailability of an official test to validate a diagnosis. 

Impact of Hyperhidrosis on Mental Health

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is not just about the physical limitations—it carries a significant psychological weight that’s often overlooked. Studies have shown that people with hyperhidrosis have an increased probability of having mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit disorder.

Here are some of the psychological challenges that are associated with hyperhidrosis:

• Social Impact: Do you find yourself avoiding social events because you’re worried about visible sweat stains? If so, you’re not alone. This fear can make it hard for you to fully enjoy time with others and can leave you isolated and disconnected. 

• Increase in Anxiety: Constantly worrying about sweating in public? It's not just annoying—it can really increase your anxiety levels and create a cycle of stress that’s hard to break.

• Impact on Quality of Life: Even simple tasks like shaking hands and picking out clothes can start to feel stressful. When everyday tasks become overwhelming, it takes a toll on your overall quality of life.

• Emotional Strain: Dealing with a condition that affects your self-esteem and body image can bring on feelings of sadness or even depression. This can be overwhelming when combined with the physical challenges of hyperhidrosis.

• Self-esteem Struggles: Do you ever find yourself worrying about what others think of your appearance? Hyperhidrosis can really make those thoughts more intense, and can take a real toll on your self-esteem.

Now, you get it—hyperhidrosis isn’t just about sweating excessively. It is a condition that affects both your body and your emotions. The constant sweating can feel like a hidden load, weighing down on your mental and emotional health. 

If you or someone you love is dealing with hyperhidrosis, just know—you're not alone in this. Recognizing the emotional side is just as important as addressing the physical symptoms. Open conversations and empathy can work wonders. 

The Hyperhidrosis—Breathing Connection

It’s a no-brainer that hyperhidrosis shares a cyclical connection with anxiety— the more you sweat, the more stressed, nervous, and self-conscious you are, and you start to sweat even more. 

When you usually perspire, your sympathetic nervous system activates your sweat glands to reduce the body temperature. When you have hyperhidrosis, these nerves become hyperactive, causing more sweating than necessary. This can even get worse when combined with stress or physical activity.

Have you ever tried holding your breath just for a few seconds? How did that feel? Breathing is something we do without even thinking about it, that’s because it’s regulated by the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. But here’s something that you might not be aware of: if you’re not breathing the right way, it can mess with your body’s oxygen-carbon dioxide balance. Over time, this imbalance can contribute to anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, and other physical and emotional issues. 

Now, here’s the good news for you: you can break this cycle by learning to breathe better. Wondering how? Optimal Breathing has got you covered with the proprietary breathing techniques and exercises that can help you calm your overactive sympathetic nervous system and shift the focus into the parasympathetic nervous system—meaning a more relaxed state, reducing both stress and excessive sweating. 

In what other ways can this help? Yes, it helps regulate the oxygen-carbon dioxide balance, and it’s like hitting the reset button for your mind and body, offering you the tools to manage your hyperhidrosis from within. It’s not just about managing your stress—you can take charge of your body’s responses. 

From instant relief during high-pressure situations to building long-term resilience against anxiety-induced sweating, utilizing the power of your diaphragm can do wonders for your body. 

Optimal Breathing Techniques: Anywhere, Anytime

Now, let’s take a look at what an optimal breath looks like. Breathing optimally involves your belly (diaphragm in particular), ribs, chest, and shoulders in the form of a wave that is moving in the upward direction.

Observe the image and you can see the pear, cone, and diaphragm (represented by the red line) in action. 

The ribcage and diaphragm work together to facilitate air exchange during each breathing cycle. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts, flattens, and moves downward and the rib cage expands.

When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its high dome shape, pushing the air out of the lungs while simultaneously massaging your heart. In addition to this, as you exhale, the ribcage collapses, and this contributes to the expulsion of air.

Always keep in mind that consistency is key here. The benefits of breathing exercises build up over time. Practicing the optimal breathing techniques regularly not only helps manage hyperhidrosis but also supports overall wellness, improving sleep quality, focus, and energy. Just 5-10 minutes a day can make a difference.

Have you ever been in a situation like important meetings or public speaking and suddenly felt the sweat creeping in? It’s frustrating but you’re not alone. Next time, try taking a few deep, diaphragmatic breaths right before to help reduce the anxiety-induced sweat response.

The Takeaway

While breathing isn’t a direct cure for hyperhidrosis, it can be a game-changer in managing its effects and improving your overall quality of life. Dedicating a few minutes each day to optimal breathing techniques can help your body’s stress responses, reduce anxiety, and take a proactive step toward managing excessive sweating. 

If hyperhidrosis feels like it’s running your life, optimal breathing can make a big difference. Let’s control excessive sweating one breath at a time.