Causes of Excess Sweating

Excess sweating is a miserable condition that can cause emotional distress and social embarrassment for an individual. It is a condition that affects men and women alike, and can develop at any age. There are a number of factors that are believed to cause excess sweating.

Hyperthyroidism

• This is a medical condition in which the thyroid gland secretes excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, causing excess sweating, tremors and heart palpitations.

Menopause

• Excess sweating, particularly at night, is a common symptom of menopause. It results from hormonal changes in a woman's body during the menopausal transition.

Hyperhidrosis

• Excess sweating may be caused by hyperhidrosis, a medical condition in which the sweat glands produce sweat in significantly larger amounts than needed to regulate body temperature.

Pharmaceutical Drugs

• A number of prescription and non-prescription medications can cause excess sweating as a side effect. These include Cialis, Celebrex, Levitra, Ambien and Zoloft.

Underlying Conditions

• Another reason for excessive sweating is an underlying disease or condition such as diabetes mellitus, leukemia and Parkinson's disease. In this case, excessive sweating is a symptom and will stop once the disease or condition is cured.

Addiction

• Alcoholism and addiction to cocaine, amphetamines and other stimulant drugs are another reason for excessive sweating.