Sweating: its importance

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Extract from the article: Sweating is a natural phenomenon, essential for regulating body temperature. Sweat can also be a revealing indicator of physical health, mood or even diet. From fear to nutritional deficiency, from depression to high stress, perspiration is a health

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Sweating is a natural phenomenon, essential for regulating body temperature. Sweat can also be a revealing indicator of physical health, mood or even diet. From fear to nutritional deficiency, from depression to high stress, perspiration is a health warning signal.

Sweating, a natural process that is often misunderstood, is an integral part of our daily lives. Regardless of age, sex or origin, everyone perspires at one time or another. However, each person perspires in a unique way: quantity, intensity, time of day - everything can vary. Although sweat can sometimes be embarrassing, it does have certain health benefits. It's important to recognize that sweating is a vital mechanism that should not be underestimated.

Indicating low sodium levels

Sweat contains not only water, but also electrolytes such as sodium, essential for the body's water and nerve balance. Particularly salty perspiration can be a sign of sodium deficiency. How can you tell? If sweat irritates the skin, stings the eyes, leaves white marks on clothing or burns a small wound. These are signs not to be overlooked.

In this case, we recommend adjusting your diet. Add a pinch of salt to meals such as eggs, vegetables and meats, but don't overdo it.

Too much coffee

Excessive coffee consumption can trigger excessive sweating.Caffeine activates the central nervous system and directly stimulates the sweat glands. What's more, the heat of the hot beverage can raise body temperature.

You'll arrive at the office sweating in the early hours of the morning.Other foods, such as garlic, onions or alcohol, can also influence body odor.

The sweat of fear

Fear has a smell, literally. A study conducted by the US Army took sweat samples from parachutists before their first jump and compared them with samples collected during treadmill exercises. Volunteers who smelled the “fear” sweat samples saw the areas of their brains associated with alertness and anxiety activate.

This is explained by pheromones, the chemical signals emitted by the body that unconsciously transmit emotions.In the past, pheromones played a survival role, warning fellow animals of imminent danger.

Revealing an infection

Perspiration can also be a clue to illness.A study published in “Psychological Science” has shown that healthy people can unconsciously detect signs of infection in others by their body odor.In the event of infection, the immune system alters the chemical composition of sweat, generating a different, sometimes stronger or unpleasant odor.

Doctors themselves can sometimes recognize certain serious illnesses by their odor, such as uncontrolled diabetes, which can cause a fruity odor of the breath or skin.Body odor is therefore not to be neglected.

Physical fitness

The fitter you are, the more you sweat.The sooner this starts with exercise.A 2010 study showed that well-trained athletes start sweating faster and in greater quantities than less active people. Their bodies are more efficient at regulating temperature and cooling down quickly.This is a sign of good physiological adaptation. So, if you sweat a lot during training, it's often a good sign.

Stress and depression

Chronic negative stress and depression alter not only mood, but also the body's physiology.A German-Swedish study found that 97% of people suffering from severe depression who died by suicide had a reduced perspiration response to emotional stimuli.

According to the researchers, this was due to altered neurons in the hippocampus, the brain region involved in stress and emotion management. Thus, a depressed person may have a less vivid biological response to his or her environment, including a reduction in sweating reactions.

Emotions

Emotional perspiration conveys more than fear. A Dutch study has shown that a person's mood can be transmitted through sweat.

This proves that sweat contains subtle emotional cues, capable of triggering mirror reactions in others, reinforcing the idea that the body is a powerful non-verbal messenger.

Pregnancy

Many pregnant women notice an increase in perspiration, particularly at night.This is due to hormonal changes, increased blood volume and a more active metabolism.

These factors accentuate the production of body heat.

Night sweats are particularly frequent during the first trimester, but can also occur at other times during pregnancy. The same applies to menopausal hot flashes, caused by a similar hormonal imbalance.

Raymond DZAKPATA

Source : womandays.com