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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffStrenuous physical activity and warm temperatures are commonly associated with excessive sweating. You may also sweat excessively as a result of a fever.
Excessive sweating that affects large areas of the body and that occurs while you're awake and asleep is likely a side effect of a drug or a sign of a disease or condition, such as menopause hot flashes, anxiety or overactive thyroid.
Excessive daytime sweating of the palms, soles and underarms for no apparent reason is known as focal hyperhidrosis. This type of excessive sweating typically stops when you're sleeping and isn't associated with an underlying condition.
Medical causes of excessive sweating include:
- Diabetes
- Endocarditis
- Fever of undetermined cause
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Heart attack
- HIV/AIDS
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Leukemia
- Medications, such as some beta blockers and tricyclic antidepressants
- Menopause
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Obesity
- Stress
- Tuberculosis
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
- Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2012.
- Smith CC, et al. Primary focal hyperhidrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Aug. 1, 2012.
- Cerfolio RJ, et al. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons expert consensus for the surgical treatment of hyperhidrosis. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2011;91:1642.
- What is a heart attack? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack. Accessed Aug. 1, 2012.
- Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 12, 2012.
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