Excessive sweating during fitness and its causes. More sweat = better workout

15.10.2019 Warm floor

Gettyimages/Fotobank.ru

Abundant sweat during training is the main indicator of the most effective exercise. Sweating is nature's natural thermoregulation mechanism for the body. It is directly related to metabolism, maintains water-salt balance, removes toxic products that are dangerous for the body. With heavy muscular work and in hot weather, sweat becomes the only means that protects our body from overheating.

Based on this, friends, do not think that sweating in training, you look ugly. Just try to choose clothes made from natural fabrics (cotton and linen) or use clothing lines designed specifically for active fitness. Such clothing allows the skin to breathe and easily give off excess moisture (see).

The same applies to shoes (see). Well, if you do yoga or Pilates, then your feet constantly “breathe”. And what about Fit-bo or dance lovers? Choose comfortable, light and high-quality shoes and use special talcum powder or foot deodorants.

I am often asked: is it possible to exercise in a weight loss belt? Or train, wrapped from head to toe with cling film? To be honest, I know examples where this works. But I know much more examples when a person does not enjoy training in such equipment. After all, in addition to the discomfort experienced, there is a risk of getting a heat stroke. Try Fit-bo in the sauna and you'll see what I mean.

If you are a fat person and on the eve of a workout you drank a liter of hot tea or ate some Mexican dish (something very spicy and salty), and also if you are a man (yes, yes, studies show that men sweat more than women), be prepared for a lot of sweating. If you never sweat under any circumstances (this also happens), do not rejoice ahead of time. On the one hand, of course, this is a significant savings on washing powder, but on the other hand, this is a serious indicator that something is wrong with your body and heat transfer is disturbed in it. Therefore, after an active workout, it is recommended to look into the sauna or steam room for seven to ten minutes in order to actively sweat and get rid of all the bad things that have accumulated in the body.

An extreme situation is profuse sweating in everyday life caused by stress (by the way, if you periodically break through cold sweat, this is an occasion to think about health), again, some spicy food or something else, this is already a medical case and the topic of a separate article . And since I'm not a doctor, but still a fitness instructor and your personal Fit-bo trainer, we won't touch on medical topics. Therefore, I can only wish everyone good training, perfect thermoregulation and, as a result, super results and good mood!

If there was such an option as the deactivation of all sweat glands at the moments when a person applied serious physical effort, in half an hour the unfortunate person would have fallen unconscious with a high temperature. Sweating during sports, internal emotional upheavals, as well as rapid and excessive filling of the stomach, performs the function of cooling the body. And just as no complex mechanism can work for a long time in an overheated state, so a multifunctional apparatus - the human body, will quickly fail, having lost the opportunity to cool down.

By the level of sweating, one can understand how intensively the muscles are being worked out and how adequately the body perceives the loads placed on it. In fact, the presence of sweating during periods of training indicates an absolutely healthy body with undistorted functions of the sweat glands, that's all. In addition to the cooling that moisture brings, evaporating on our heated skin, with droplets protruding from enlarged pores, accumulated toxins, sebaceous plugs, salts and other heavy elements come out.

But there are situations when, during exercise, moisture lingers in the body and begins to appear in abundant tides, after the tense muscles have relaxed.

The origin of such a belated compensation for overheating may be a violation of thermoregulation due to a vegetative-vascular disorder or for another reason, which must be clarified if the incident repeats or occurs repeatedly.

Abundant perspiration may not be observed at all, not before training, nor after it. If the factor of conscious prevention of hyperhidrosis is eliminated - this includes the use of specialized creams, talc, sprays or a well-ventilated room - then you can look for the cause in medicines, dietary supplements or steroid drugs that could greatly change the hormonal background and thereby disrupt the water-alkaline balance in the body .

How to reduce excessive sweating

In the gym, the sight of blurry wet spots on the back and armpits will not frighten anyone, but for many people such a delicate problem can even become an obstacle to visiting the sports section. How not to sweat if you need to give all your best in training?

Of course, it will not be possible to completely eliminate hyperhidrosis with the help of corrective actions, but it is possible to reduce sweating, making the situation less psychologically painful, by observing simple conditions:

  • Forbid yourself flour and fatty foods 4-6 hours before a workout, or rather put a strict taboo on this aspect if you are overweight. Fat people sweat more profusely;
  • When purchasing a sports uniform, clearly focus on your sport. There are clothes for playing table tennis, for the "rocking chair" - their own and nothing else;
  • You can drink water 2 hours before training only if you really want to, and you should forget about hot, carbonated and energy drinks 2-4 hours before class;
  • Smoking and occasional alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is actually the main answer to the questions: “Why do I sweat so much during training?”. Couperose on the face, a network of red vessels appearing in the area of ​​​​the nose and nasolabial folds - this is also a problem from the morning cigarette;
  • Foot sweating is the result of wearing uncomfortable, stuffy shoes, but with a tendency to increased hyperhidrosis, feet can sweat even in rag "T-shirts". Talc or a special spray that reduces sweating and protects against fungus will help;

It can be added that applying an antiperspirant somewhere else, except for the axillary area, will exacerbate the problem, since the rigid structure of the applied substance with the presence of heavy metals literally “clogs” the pores, locking the liquid inside. This can cause serious skin conditions.

Covered in cold sweat

Normally, sweat produced from the body during physical exertion should not bring a feeling of cold, since it is the same temperature as the body, but cools down already at the exit from the epidermis. “Why don’t I sweat as much during workouts as everyone else? I cover myself with sticky icy perspiration, literally drenched in it, as if from the shower, ”many athletes ask at an appointment with an endocrinologist.

As a rule, the weakness that accompanies such a symptom causes a person to stop exercising. It happens worse when an athlete overdoes himself and continues to practice. Usually, precisely as a result of such a negligent attitude to health, then all sorts of questions arise: “Why me?” in the doctor's office.

The first thing that an endocrinologist will advise in such a situation is to donate blood for sugar levels, and then undergo an examination for cardiovascular diseases.

The smell of sweat has changed

The following questions, "What's wrong with me?", arise when the character of sweating becomes "scented". A person notices that he smells differently than before, perhaps others notice this as well. The first important moment of such uncharacteristic changes is observed in beginners in sports, who, in an effort to build muscle mass, begin to consume protein in large quantities, without denying themselves the pleasure of sometimes eating the usual spicy and fatty foods. If at the same time they have not yet accustomed themselves to drink the prescribed amount of liquid, a sharp ammonia smell is provided to them after a short time.

If the food culture is adjusted correctly and the diet is balanced, a sudden change in body odor will have to be sought in other causes.

Some people do everything not to sweat. Even when they train, they do not give all the best, so as not to sweat a lot. But sweating is actually good and even good for health. Whether you are exercising, sitting in the sauna, or taking a walk, sweat heals the body.

There are at least 8 reasons why you really need to sweat every day.

Detoxification

In recent years, a huge amount of research has appeared, talking about the ability of sweat to detoxify the body, says Sierra Bright. By sweating, our body is cleansed of all kinds of toxins, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.

Heavy metals

Many common things in our environment contain toxic metals, including the foods we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. According to numerous studies, some metals can lead to serious health problems.

When the body has accumulated too much of these substances, it can cause joint and muscle pain, fatigue, headache, constipation, etc. Sweating helps to solve this problem. Studies have shown that sweat contains 24 times more cadmium, 19 times more nickel, 16 times more lead and almost 3 times more aluminum than urine. It turns out that sweat is more effective than urine for removing most heavy metals from the body.

Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A, or BPA as it is often called, is considered an endocrine disruptor, a chemical that mimics estrogen. Its presence has been found to lead to many potential negative effects, including infertility.

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital published results in 2013 demonstrating that BPA exposure affects endocrine function, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland. Experts have suggested that this type of action may affect puberty and ovulation and lead to infertility. BPA has also been linked to breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

When scientists examined the blood, urine, and sweat of volunteers for BPA, out of 20 sweat samples collected, 16 contained BPA. 14 urine samples and 2 blood samples also tested positive for the toxin. This means that sweating helps remove BPA from the body.

Phthalates

Phthalates are present in plastic products and are toxic chemicals that are excreted in sweat. They are known to interfere with the production of the male hormone testosterone and are associated with reproductive abnormalities. They are also on the list of toxic substances known to cause birth defects.

A 2003 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives states that environmental levels of phthalates are associated with altered DNA integrity in human semen. Sweat is the best way to get rid of this toxic chemical. One study showed that the concentration of phthalates in sweat was more than 2 times higher than in urine.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Studies show that POPs, which include insecticides, fumigants and solvents, are also potentially dangerous, and many of them adversely affect health. Even low levels of POPs can lead to immune system problems, higher cancer risks, reproductive disorders, neurobehavioral problems, endocrine disruption, and an increase in birth defects, among others.

When testing study participants for POPs, the clinical study found that sweat samples contained almost all of the parent pesticide compounds, indicating that sweating is highly effective in reducing this toxic load.

Healing

As already mentioned, sweat helps us recover. In fact, science is only just beginning to reveal the important role that sweat glands play when it comes to healing all kinds of wounds.

Endorphins

Since the body releases endorphins, it is possible to increase these “happiness hormone” levels in the brain through exercise-induced sweating. Exercise is known to increase the release of endorphins. They are considered natural pain relievers because they activate opioid receptors in the brain, which help to minimize discomfort and can also help induce feelings of euphoria and general well-being.

The effects of endorphins are so powerful that they may even be more effective at fighting depression than antidepressants. The problem with these drugs is that they have a long list of side effects, including liver damage, insomnia, anxiety, hostility, suicidal behavior, violent behavior, weight gain, nausea, constipation, fatigue, headaches, increased risk of stroke, birth defects. and miscarriages, as well as sudden cardiac death - and this is not the whole list.

Working out to a sweat is the best way to get rid of constant sadness without harmful and unwanted side effects.

Prevention and slowdown of Alzheimer's disease

Studies have found that physical activity "to the point of sweating" can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or prevent it altogether. Cleveland Clinic research, published in the May 2014 issue of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, found that exercise may help maintain a healthy brain in those at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The results also suggest that even a moderate amount of physical activity can help slow the progression of this dreaded disease of old age.

Fighting a cold or flu

Sweating has long been recommended for speeding up recovery from a cold or flu, and research has backed up its benefits. One 2013 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a natural antibiotic is naturally activated in salty, slightly acidic sweat.

For mild cold or flu symptoms, you can work out to sweat, or go to the sauna as another option. The heat will make you sweat, and the heat will weaken the viruses.

Reducing the risk of kidney stones

Sweating helps maintain healthy kidney function by eliminating some of the salt and calcium in the bloodstream. In turn, this reduces the amount of salt and calcium in the urine, which can lead to the formation of kidney stones. At the same time, the loss of water caused by sweating, whether you are sweating due to the summer heat or work, leads to a decrease in urine production. Because of this, the minerals that cause the appearance of stones are deposited in the kidneys and urinary tract.

Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of kidney stones, it is important not only to sweat, but also to drink plenty of water to avoid the opposite effect.

Memory improvement

Researchers have found that working up a sweat in the gym helps improve memory. One study from the Georgia Institute of Technology found that in healthy young adults, just 20 minutes of intense exercise can increase episodic memory and AKA long-term memory by as much as 10%.

Any workout that makes you sweat will do.

Clearer complexion

Sweating, whether it's during a workout or sitting in a sauna, helps open up your pores and get rid of dirt. Sweat carries away the dirt along with what clogged the pores, cleansing the skin.

How to make your body sweat

Any type of exercise can be a good way to make yourself sweat, such as a brisk walk, run, swim, hike, or bike ride. The key is to find the right type of physical activity that suits you.

When the weather doesn't allow you to go outside, look for other ways to exercise indoors, such as:

  • Dancing. Just turn on the music and dance. No need to think about how to dance - have fun! It will lift your spirits and give your heart a great workout.
  • Lifting cargo. Just use what you have at home to strengthen your arm muscles: jugs of water, bottles of laundry detergent.
  • Jumping or squatting.
  • Training videos. From DVDs to YouTube and everything in between, there are plenty of workout options to choose from so you can exercise from the comfort of your own home.
  • Sauna is another good way to sweat. When researchers compared infrared saunas to steam saunas, they found that infrared sauna-induced sweat was higher in bismuth, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and uranium. In turn, the steam sauna caused the release of arsenic, aluminum, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, tin, thallium and zinc with sweat.

The most important thing after the body sweats is to return the lost amount of fluid to it. If you're not sure how much to drink, just weigh yourself before exercising (saunas, etc.) and after sweating. The difference in weight is the amount of water you need to drink.

Remember, you need to drink your individual volume of water every day: for 1 kg of weight - 30 ml of pure water.

Hello dear readers! In the article we touch on the problem of excessive sweating during physical activity. We describe the essence of the physiological process, list the factors that stimulate the release of fluid. Here we also describe when sweat after a workout and during exercise can be a cause for concern. We also do not disregard the issue of therapy and prevention of an unpleasant phenomenon.

Sweat during exercise: good or bad?

Is it good to sweat while exercising? To answer this question, it is worth touching on the physiological aspect of this phenomenon. The sweat glands are responsible for the process of thermoregulation in the body. As the body heats up, sweat cools the surface of the skin. The released liquid also acts as a lubricant, which provides protection against bacteria, since it is characterized by an acidic reaction.

When a person performs exercises during training, his body generates a lot of heat, the surface of the skin heats up. The body seeks to normalize the temperature through the release of sweat. Thus, we are talking about an absolutely normal phenomenon, which, subject to moderate fluid release, should not cause concern to the athlete.

Let's formulate the question differently: "Is it dangerous not to sweat during training?". Lack of sweat during physical activity can be caused by:

  • dehydration of the body;
  • the absence of a sufficiently intense load;
  • skin diseases;
  • violations in the work (absence) of sweat glands;
  • neurological disorders;
  • individual characteristics of the organism;
  • failures at the genetic level.


The reasons for this phenomenon are quite diverse, therefore, the problem should be solved under the strict guidance of a specialist.

Excessive sweating: what is the reason?

Some sports enthusiasts comment in a similar vein: "Why do I sweat a lot during exercise, while others don't?" The question may well be relevant.

In most cases, active sweating during sports is due to a hereditary tendency. Less commonly, the phenomenon is caused by pathological processes or external factors. This condition may be due to the following number of factors:

  • problems with the cardiovascular system (the circulatory system is not able to distribute oxygen evenly to all cells);
  • failures in the autonomic nervous system, causing disturbances in the process of thermoregulation;
  • hormonal disorders (during the transitional age in children, menopause, pregnancy in women);
  • problems at the level of the endocrine system (imbalance of enzymes causes a slowdown in metabolism);
  • overweight (provides an additional load on muscle and joint tissue);
  • wearing synthetic underwear and clothes (creating a "greenhouse effect");
  • inappropriate microclimate in the room (high temperature, humidity);
  • the use of excess amounts of liquid, spicy dishes.


Attention! If a child sweats heavily during physical exertion, this is in most cases associated with an unfavorable ambient room climate: the room is too hot, humid. Diseases expressed in excessive sweating are rarely discussed in the case of children.

When to beware: we analyze current problems

Among those who should pay special attention to their own condition are those who observe increased sweating during light exertion. For example, in the process of walking or a simple warm-up. The question is very relevant when a person complains: “With moderate walking, I sweat quickly!”.

In this case, heavy sweating can indicate a serious malfunction in the body. A visit to the doctor is especially necessary if a similar picture is observed for a long period before and after classes.

Cold sweat - "alarm bell"

When else is it recommended to see a doctor? If the training takes place in a stuffy room or outdoors during the hot season, cold sweat may appear on the body of the athletes. The skin cools down, it seems very wet - a person becomes cold after a workout. Thus, the body prevents overheating.

Experts advise stopping the session, guided by the likelihood of a deterioration in the athlete's condition. A similar symptom is not alien to diabetics, in whose blood sugar levels drop sharply during exercise. In addition, the release of cold sweat, accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest and fear, can warn of an imminent heart attack. If weakness, ear ringing is added to the characteristic symptom, then we are talking about a decrease in blood pressure.

Attention! Under any circumstances, the described condition of the athlete is a reason for medical advice or prompt assistance from the medical staff.

Smelly sweat - isn't it scary?

It happens that athletes, especially adults, notice the unpleasant smell of their own sweat. After a fairly intense workout, a person literally smells ammonia in the nose. This is observed when observing a protein diet, passion for spicy foods, non-compliance with the drinking regimen.


On a biochemical level, the phenomenon is explained by the process of splitting protein molecules. A chemical reaction leads to the release of ammonia, which gives the released liquid an unpleasant odor.

However, the stench of sweat is not always associated with such obvious facts. Sometimes this phenomenon becomes the result of a number of ailments, including:

  • kidney and liver diseases;
  • endocrine diseases;
  • avitaminosis;
  • infectious diseases.

In order to clarify the situation, a person should consult a doctor.

What influences the intensity of sweating at the physiological level? In fact, this process is associated with the level of development of muscle tissue and with how adequately the human body perceives physical activity. The release of sweat directly during exercise indicates a healthy body. In addition to the fact of timely cooling of the body, we can assert that everything unnecessary and harmful comes out with sweat: toxins, salt, sebaceous plugs, etc.


However, things don't always go so smoothly. Sometimes in the process of exercising, the fluid lingers in the body and begins to come out after the onset of a state of relaxation. The athlete experiences discomfort from periodic flushes of sweat.

Such belated sweating is a consequence of a violation of the thermoregulation process associated with vegetative-vascular diseases. There is a need to visit a specialist.

Cases of profuse sweating during training or its complete absence (they were discussed earlier) also require attention from a specialist.

How to deal with the problem?

It will not be possible to completely defeat hyperhidrosis by following the above tips, but it is possible to reduce the amount of sweat released. Traditional corrective actions include:

How not to sweat while exercising? Explanation
Refrain from flour and fatty foods It is necessary to refuse this type of dishes 4-6 hours before the start of classes. If the problem of excess weight is relevant, this class of food should be completely excluded from the menu.
Choose your sportswear wisely When buying sportswear, “push off” from the sport
Follow the drinking regime 2 hours before class, you can drink water only if you really want to. Hot and carbonated drinks, energy drinks should be categorically excluded 4 hours before training
Give up cigarettes and alcohol Even small amounts of nicotine and alcohol can lead to hyperhidrosis during exercise. The face turns red or rosacea - problems living next to a cigarette
Pay attention to sports shoes Preference should be given to light "t-shirts" made of natural material
Use special tools We are talking about special sprays that reduce sweating and provide protection against fungus.

Important! Using underarm antiperspirants to keep other areas of the body dry will exacerbate the problem. The tool has a rigid structure, includes heavy metals that cover the surface of the skin with a film, locking sweat inside. This can lead to serious skin ailments.


How to prevent an unpleasant symptom?

As a preventive measure, in case of a predisposition to excessive sweating during training, the previously listed recommendations related to nutrition, drinking regimen and clothing should be followed.

In addition, you should pay attention to additional tips:

  1. Before training, take a contrast shower - the pores will open, the body will begin to breathe.
  2. Try to drink less fluid before and during exercise.
  3. Before you start exercising, ventilate the room well. This will help reduce the temperature and humidity in the room.
  4. Use baby powder: the product absorbs moisture and helps to avoid friction.

So that profuse sweating during physical exertion does not cause embarrassment, it is better to take a small towel with you to training and wipe problem areas of the body with it.

Let's draw conclusions

In conclusion, we present the obvious conclusions formulated on the basis of the information provided.

Sweating during exercise is a normal physiological process. The release of fluid not only helps the body to “transfer” its heat to the environment, but also provides a protective function for the whole organism.


Excessively active sweating during physical exertion (when sweat literally drips from the face) is most often associated with heredity, less often with the development of pathologies.

Other warning signs include the following:

  • increased sweating with minimal physical exertion;
  • complete absence of sweat during classes;
  • performance of cold sweat;
  • pungent odor of the secreted liquid;
  • late sweating;
  • fading of the symptom, then again its resumption.

In all of these cases, the athlete should contact a specialist.

Therapeutic and preventive measures for the described problem are similar.

When exercising intensively in the gym or individual exercises, people are worried about increased sweating during exercise. In most cases, this is only an aesthetic problem, because sweating is the norm with active muscle contraction, and the absence of drops on the skin during movement, on the contrary, indicates the presence of internal pathology.

Why is sweat released during exercise?

During active muscle work, body temperature rises. To control the temperature regime, the body activates the sweat glands and reduces the internal degree by removing and evaporating warm fluid. Excessive sweating during sports is an absolutely natural process that indicates the correct operation of the thermoregulation system. With moisture comes a large amount of harmful substances that are released when excess fat is burned during exercise, this provides the effect of detoxifying the body. Therefore, the trouble of increased sweating should not bother people who decide to lead an active lifestyle. The benefits of exercise far outweigh the inconvenience of a wet T-shirt that you can take off and change into a clean one.

Causes of excessive sweating during exercise

In some people, excessive sweating is a hereditary tendency, while in other cases it is caused by pathological conditions or external circumstances. can be caused by factors such as:

When is the problem treated?

You need to be careful if heavy sweating is observed at the slightest load or action, for example, when running slowly or doing a simple warm-up. Excessive sweating can be a sign of serious problems if it occurs for a long time before and after exercise. Anxiety will cause sticky, smelly and cold sweat, as well as its complete absence during physical exertion.

At the slightest deviation in the process of excretion of sweat fluid, it is necessary to contact a therapist and take tests.

Ways to eliminate in adults and children


In the absence of organic diseases, the form, wet with sweat, is an indicator of the effectiveness of training.

If profuse sweating is a consequence of a pathology, then you need to consult a doctor who will determine the cause of the disease and advise how to deal with it. Folk remedies, such as baths with oak bark or sea salt, work well with sweating. For light sweating, it is advised to use talcum powder or baby powder before starting a workout and with each strength exercise. This will prevent friction and help absorb moisture. If a child in adolescence is strongly prone to sweating, he does not need to be treated, after the normalization of the hormonal background, the problem will disappear.