Do you notice the guy or gal at the gym who always seems fresh and dry. They never sweat when working out or so it seems. There can be several reasons for not sweating—anhidrosis, but one of the easiest to identify is that they simply don’t push themselves to the point of sweating. However, there are also more serious health issues that could be causing their lack of sweat.
If you’re that person that doesn’t sweat, first check how hard you’re pushing yourself by taking your pulse.
If you’re leisurely exercising, riding your bike at almost a walking pace or lifting weights that aren’t a challenge, don’t be surprised if you’re staying dry. You need to exert a certain amount of effort to increase your heart rate, cause heat to generate and start to sweat. The more activity and the more you exert yourself, the more you sweat. It can be hard to tell how hard you push yourself based on how much sweat you have, since everyone is different, so take your pulse during a workout. Your target rate should be 50 to 70 percent of maximum heart rate, which is your age subtracted from 220 bpm.
You might be suffering from dehydration.
Some people are mildly dehydrated all the time and that can affect how much they sweat. If you normally sweat, but are working just as hard as normal and don’t, you could be suffering from dehydration. Dehydration is especially prominent during the summer months and is an easy problem to solve. Drink more fluid to replace the fluid lost. The American Council on Exercise suggests you drink 17 to 20 ounces 2-3 hours before working out. 8 ounces should be consumed a half hour before the workout with 7-10 hours every 20 minutes during the workout and 8 ounces a half hour after a workout.
Some medical conditions can cause lack of sweat.
More serious conditions can be the reason you may not sweat. For instance, diseases that affect the autonomic nervous system, like diabetes, Guillain-Barre, alcoholism and Horner’s syndrome, damage nerves and effect your sweat causing anhidrosis—lack of sweat. Thyroid disease can cause it since the thyroid regulates body temperature. Some autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, like a stroke, can also affect whether you sweat.
- Burns, skin infections and even bug bites can affect your ability to sweat, causing anhidrosis. Psoriasis can plug the pores. Even conditions that affect the sweat glands can lead to the inability to perspire.
- If you know you have a condition that doesn’t allow you to sweat, be aware of ways to avoid overheating. Wear lighter clothing and choose activities and intensity carefully. Avoid exercising in extremely hot areas.
- Sweating is an important bodily function that helps cleanse the body of waste and keeps it cool. Always check with your health care professional if your pulse rates indicates you’re working hard enough to sweat.
- Lack of sweating, anhidrosis or hypohidrosis, can be dangerous. It can cause hyperthermia—overheating the body, stroke and even death.
For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training