Table of contents:
- Why does cold sweat occur?
- Fear, anxiety, and stress
- Lack of oxygen
- Aches and pains
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood sugar
- Heart disease
- Shock
- Infection
- How to deal with cold sweat?
- 1. Using drugs
- 2. Sports
- 3. Apply a healthy diet
- 4. Maintain body cleanliness
Sometimes sweating can appear when you are in a cool room or when your body doesn't feel hot. Often called a cold sweat, this condition is quite common and has been experienced by almost everyone.
Why does cold sweat occur?
Cold sweating (diaphoresis) is a condition that usually only occurs in certain areas such as the palms, armpits, or soles of the feet. A person is said to experience cold sweat when sweating while the skin is cold.
Many think that cold sweat or cold sweat together with night sweat, whereas they are two different conditions.
As the name suggests, night sweat only happens at night like when you are sleeping. While, cold sweat can happen at any time, whether morning, afternoon, evening, or night.
Other symptoms that may appear along with cold sweats are a harder heart beat, a heavier breath, open sweat glands, and the release of endorphins.
Lack of blood flow to the digestive system can also be a symptom of cold sweats, causing reduced saliva production and dry mouth.
In this condition, the sweat produced comes from the apocrine sweat glands. Of course, this sweat is different from the sweat produced by the eccrine glands which are responsible for regulating body temperature.
There are several factors that can trigger this phenomenon. These factors can be from psychological or physical influences. Here are a few possibilities.
Fear, anxiety, and stress
Generally, cold sweat appears as a form of the body's response to threats that come from outside. Fear, anxiety, and stress are what will trigger the sweat glands to produce sweat even though the body temperature or the surrounding air does not increase.
Lack of oxygen
Sometimes, stress and anxiety are also accompanied by difficulty breathing. When this happens, the result is that the oxygen supply in the blood will decrease. The brain then reads the situation as a threat and eventually produces a cold sweat.
Aches and pains
Unbearable pain due to migraines, fractures, or serious injuries can cause this condition. Sweating occurs as the body's way to defend itself and relieve pain.
Low blood pressure
Normally, blood pressure is in the range of 120/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is lower, you will feel dizzy, faint, and experience cold sweats.
Low blood sugar
Blood sugar that is too low or hypoglycemia is often experienced by diabetics who use insulin. Sweating is one of the symptoms of this condition, along with trembling, blurred vision, and headaches.
Low blood sugar can also be caused by consuming too much alcohol, malnutrition, or eating too late.
Heart disease
Sweating can also indicate heart disease, especially if it is accompanied by chest pain, pain in the arm, dizziness, or even loss of consciousness.
Shock
Shock or medical shock occurs when blood flow to the brain or other vital organs suddenly stops. Cold sweat is one of the signs. If not treated properly, medical shock can cause death.
Infection
Cold sweating can be a reaction that occurs when the body tries to fight various diseases from viral and bacterial infections. This disease also usually shows other symptoms such as muscle weakness and pain.
How to deal with cold sweat?
In fact, cold sweats are more often seen as a symptom of a condition, so treatment will focus on the cause. However, there are several ways you can try to reduce the risk, namely as follows.
1. Using drugs
To deal with cold sweats, you can use certain drugs that are related to the cause of the sweat. Medications that you may use include:
- Nerve blockers. These drugs function to block the nerves that act as signals to the sweat production glands.
- Antidepressants. Medicines can be used if the cause is anxiety.
Before using the drugs above, make sure that you are sure of the cause. In addition, it is better to consult your doctor first about your condition, and what medicines you should use.
2. Sports
One of the ways you can do to deal with cold sweat is to get more exercise. Choose types of exercise that are not too strenuous and can help you reduce stress, such as yoga and other types of relaxation exercises.
Yoga, meditation, and relaxation exercises can go a long way in reducing stress and anxiety so that you can be calmer and more relaxed. Do this activity regularly so that the risk of experiencing this condition is reduced.
3. Apply a healthy diet
In some people, certain foods and drinks can trigger the body to produce more sweat. This can also happen when you experience cold sweat.
If you want to treat the symptoms of this condition, you should reduce your caffeine intake, which has the potential to increase sweat production.
Better, keep your intake of mineral water throughout the day so you avoid dehydration. Reducing smoking and consuming alcohol can also help you prevent cold sweat.
4. Maintain body cleanliness
One of the ways you can treat cold sweat is to keep your body clean. Doing so can keep you from risking body odor due to persistent sweating.
For example, you can start by taking a shower with an antibacterial soap, which can help you reduce body odor.
Also, make sure that these areas of the body that are prone to sweating are kept dry, so that the risk of developing bacteria that cause body odor and discomfort due to sweating is reduced.