When I run, do push-ups, etc, what can I do so I wouldn't sweat so much?

Question

So what you are saying is, sweating is good, right? If I don't sweat, than it wouldn't do anything good for me?

Answer 1

Sweating is your body's way of releasing heat

But what do you do when sweating is excessive?

"You want to control it when it's excessive, but you don't want zero sweat," says Sylvia Wright, an Atlanta dermatologist. If you don't sweat, you run the risk of overheating your body and suffering heatstroke, she says.

Whether you glisten with a dewy glow or you're sopped in streams of sweat depends on variables such as hormonal imbalances, overactive thyroid gland (which increases body metabolism and heat production), certain foods and medications, and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.

And if you exercise frequently, you're likely to work up a big sweat. But don't be fooled by large pools of perspiration; wetness does not equal fitness.

Sweating means that you're getting rid of body heat generated by your muscles during a vigorous workout, says Robyn Stuhr, exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. It does not necessarily reflect how hard you're working or the amount of calories burned. Because everyone sweats at different levels, sweat should not be used as an indicator of how hard a person is working, she says. Instead, indicators such as heart rate, perceived exertion and the "talk test" are used more.

"Exercising until you break a sweat is a general rule of thumb that doesn't work for most people," Dr. Stuhr says. "Sweating just means your body is hot. It could be that you're working or exercising hard, or your body could be hot because it's just a dang hot day."

An excessive problem

Jeannine Crowe often approached the blackboard with her hands at her sides. The middle-school teacher wanted her students' attention directed toward her, but not at her.

Ms. Crowe's underarms and back often were soaked with perspiration caused by hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by sweaty palms, feet, underarms and face. An estimated 3 percent of the population has the condition, according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society.

"In the mornings, you put on your clothes, but by the time I got to school I would have water under my arms," says Ms. Crowe, who dried her clothes with a hair dryer throughout the day. "I was always very self-conscious about it, especially in front of middle-school children."

Ms. Crowe wore layered, cotton clothing and jackets over every item. She avoided fabrics such as rayon and seldom wore fancy clothes because sweat ruins delicate garments, she says.

After trying prescription antiperspirants and medicines, Ms. Crowe received Botox injections, which were approved in 2004 to block transmissions from the nerve endings to the sweat glands. In about two weeks, the excessive sweating was gone.

"It was socially the best thing I've ever done in my life," says Ms. Crowe, who now wears a variety of clothes, attends events and does not fear raising her hands.

'Safer than surgery'

For underarms, Botox is a "great treatment, and very effective," says Atlanta dermatologist Rutledge Forney, who does not recommend the treatment for the hands.

"It's safer than surgery," she says.

Injections, which average about $900 and are administered every six to nine months, may cause bruising of the underarms and muscle weakness in the hands, she says. Patients with a history of muscle weakness should consult a physician before receiving treatment.

Monique Yancey also suffered from hyperhidrosis most of her life until she received Botox a year ago. She got immediate relief.

"I can get up in the morning, take my shower as normal, and I don't have to worry," she says.It's summer. And it's hot.

So you're going to sweat.

Everybody does it, and everybody needs to do it, dermatologists say. Sweating is a natural function designed to cool the body in response to changes in heat, stress, emotion or physical activity.
TREATMENTS TO KEEP YOU DRY

•Antiperspirants. The first line of defense, antiperspirants block sweat ducts in the underarms, hands, feet and sometimes face. They contain aluminum chloride; concentrations of 10 to 15 percent are recommended for excessive sweating of the underarms.

•Iontophoresis. Uses water to conduct a mild electrical current through the skin's surface, thicken the outer layer of the skin and block the flow of sweat. Performed on the hands and feet by a dermatologist.

•Botox. In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved injections of Botox to temporarily block the secretion of the chemical messenger in the nervous system responsible for turning on the body's sweat glands.

•Surgery. Recommended only for severe cases, procedures include liposuction to remove the sweat glands and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy to interrupt the transmission of nerve signals to the sweat glands. The procedures are permanent and not reversible.

CONTROL MEASURES

Whether you suffer from regular or excessive perspiration, follow these tips to stay drier:

•Bathe often to reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin.

•Dry thoroughly after you bathe. Bacteria and fungi (which can cause body odor and infections on irritated skin) thrive in damp spaces such as between toes.

•Apply antiperspirants morning and night. Gently massage them into underarms, hands and feet. Follow doctor's instructions if using a prescription antiperspirant.

•Dress appropriately. Wear natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk that allow the skin to breathe.

•Shield clothing. Use small pads or dress shields under your armpits to absorb sweat.

•Try relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or biofeedback. These can help you control stress that can trigger perspiration.

•Alter your diet. Take note of foods or beverages that cause you to sweat more than usual, and consider eliminating caffeinated beverages, alcohol, hot spices and foods with strong odors.

•Don't forget your feet. If you have trouble with sweaty feet, slip out of your shoes frequently or go barefoot as often as you can. Wear socks made of merino wool or a synthetic blend that helps wick moisture away from the feet.

Answer 2

Don't stop the sweating. Yes,it is good for you. Sweat helps regulate body temperature. Never wear a plastic sweatsuit or lots of warm clothing while working out on a hot day. You won't burn any more calories, but you will lose lots of water weight, which can precipitate heat stroke. An hour or two before exerting yourself outdoors in the heat, drink 16 ounces of water or sports drink, then take in between 5 and 12 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes while working or exercising, says Runner's World magazine.

Answer 3

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when the temperature is cool or when they are at rest. Sweating helps the body stay cool. In most cases, it is perfectly natural. People sweat more in warm temperatures, when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.
Excessive sweating occurs without such triggers. Persons with hyperhidrosis appear to have overactive sweat glands. The uncontrollable sweating can lead to significant discomfort, both physical and emotional. When excessive sweating affects the hands, feet, and armpits, it is called primary or focal hyperhidrosis. In most cases, no cause can be found. It seems to run in families.
If the sweating occurs as a result of another medical condition, it is called secondary hyperhidrosis. The sweating may be all over the body or it may be in one area.


In both cases you'll find on this site some good tips to solve your problem: http://hyperhidrosis.toptips.org
Hope it helps.

Answer 4

When you do exercises you want to warm up
this means getting the blooding flowing

such exercises would be push ups
make sure you are in the correct position.
as there are different ways.

You can run either indoors or outdoors
if you choose outdoors make sure you are dressed
for the weather.

You need to sweat to get warmed up
In order for the sweating to take effect
the exercises must be done properly
take the time to make sure you are
in proper position.

If you don't want to sweat much walk instead of running
but the walking part can be done as you cool down
meaning getting your blood to slow down
5 or 10 minutes of each should do it.

Answer 5

There's nothing wrong with sweating. You could I suppose exercise in a large walk-in freezer but I don't think that that would be healthy.

Despite people's misconceptions, sweating is a sign of good health and is in fact good for your skin (it cleans the pores and expels impurities).

As long as you drink water when you exercise there are no good reasons not to work up a healthy sweat.

Answer 6

theres really nothing you can do to prevent sweating. everyone's body acts differently. some people sweat just sitting there, some people hardly ever break out into a sweat. the only answer would be to cut back on your work out, but then you'll be asking how to maximize your workout while minimizing your sweating. in which case...i don't know.

Answer 7

Well, my gym coach always told me that sweating is good for you, but I would try doing less than the usual amount of push-ups you do, but do that more than once. Same with running. Maybe run for a few minutes, walk for a few, run for a few, walk... do you get the idea? I don't know, I don't work out so I am no expert, but that seems like a good idea to me.

Answer 8

All I can say is get used to it, it won't go away! I drip everywhere and sweat so bad, I'm drenched by the time I'm done, but at least I look like I've worked hard! I just bring a towel, workout in front of all the big fans at they gym and just deal with it. It is healthy!

Answer 9

sweating is good for you!
When you sweat, its a sure sign that you are truly working out, not just fooling around.
If you don't want sweat circles under your arms, which may be a bit embarrassing, then use some antiperspirant/ deodorant.
But other than that, sweating is healthy and natural for the human body.

Answer 10

Sit on your ***. Sweating is good when you exercise. It means that you've raised your core temperture and that you're burning calories. Sweating is your body's response to the heat and it's trying to cool you off. I guess you could try anti-persperant but that's only going to work on your pits. If you wanna work out, which I think you should, be ready to sweat.

Answer 11

the push ups and crunches will do little in the way of burning calories and i can't see the mile run burning any more than 200 calories at your weight. try a good half hour of INTENSE interval training a day which will improve your metabolism and burn closer to 500 calories. on the treadmill i do 2 minutes of a medium to fast paced jog followed by a minute of all out sprinting and then repeat the process (i end up doing about 3.5 miles)