I'm a healthy woman but I sweat so heavily after a workout, I'm dripping ... trends now
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I am a recently retired, healthy woman who rarely gets ill. However, I was slightly overweight and I now train and swim about four times a week, but while the extra weight has gone, I sweat really heavily during exercise — I'm dripping wet by the end of a workout. It's embarrassing and I'm also worried it could be related to a medical issue.
Julie Smith, Blackpool.
Dr Scurr replies: Congratulations on losing that extra weight — a lesson to others.
Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is common. The first step is to ascertain whether it's primary excessive sweating, where there is no obvious cause, or secondary sweating, where it is due to an underlying and potentially treatable condition.
Excessive sweating may also be linked to anxiety, certain types of medication (such as steroids) and problems such as diabetes and an overactive thyroid
One of the most common triggers of sweating in an older woman is the menopause, in the form of hot flushes. The decline in oestrogen levels affects the control mechanisms of small blood vessels in the skin, triggering random bouts of sweating, typically at night, but often in the day too, even when the woman is at rest.
Excessive sweating may also be linked to anxiety, certain types of medication (such as steroids) and problems such as diabetes and an overactive thyroid.
But in your case it occurs only after strenuous exercise — it also sounds like you are in good health, no longer overweight, exercising regularly, toned up and enjoying your exercise regimen.
I suspect that what you have is simply a normal physiological variant of sweating after exercise and that perhaps this is new to you because of your recently increased activity.
You're not alone; I've been running with others who experienced drenching sweats while some of us hardly perspired at all.
As you say, it is embarrassing, but as this is the only symptom, it does not sound like it's due to an underlying diagnosis — rather, it seems to be part of your constitution.
Ten years ago, I had a heart attack, after which I was prescribed numerous drugs, including aspirin. But it caused gastric problems so I was switched to clopidogrel. Recently, I've struggled to swallow dry food (such as sandwiches or pastries) and wondered if prolonged use of clopidogrel could be to
