Posts Tagged ‘Sympathetic Nervous System’
Sympathectomy Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating. Excessive sweating can occur in the hands (palmar hyperhidrosis), underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), feet (plantar hyperhidrosis) or face (facial hyperhidrosis). Although its exact cause is still unknown, most medical professionals believe that it is caused by the hyperactivity of the sympathetic nerve chains. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for involuntary bodily functions and one of which, is the production of sweat, which is essential in regulating body temperature.
Hyperhidrosis is often a distressing, socially debilitating condition, affecting a small but significant proportion of the world population. While symptoms usually begin during adolescence, it can also occur in other age groups.
Treatment options given to patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis usually depend on the severity of their case and which body area is affected. Non-surgical treatments such as oral medications, anti-perspirants, ointments, botox injections and iontophoresis, are the usual initial options given to patients. When none of those treatments prove beneficial or effective, there are also surgical treatments available to patients seeking more permanent results.
In the past, surgical procedures done for hyperhidrosis cases usually involve a painful incision either at the chest, back or neck (e.g. upper thoracic sympathectomy). Most often than not, these highly invasive procedures result to complications such as brachial plexus, phrenic nerve injury, or Horner’s Syndrome, a condition that can cause dropping of the upper eyelids and eye dryness. In rare cases, excessive bleeding may likewise happen. Due to recent technological advances, minimally invasive surgical methods, such as thoracoscopic sympathectomy or otherwise known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), were made possible.
ETS is a surgical procedure that intends to interrupt sympathetic nerve impulses sent to the sweat glands and prevent localized excessive sweating (usually in the hands and face). While the patient is under general anesthesia, a 5-mm. endoscope is inserted into a small incision made below the underarm to identify the second through fourth ganglia. The identified branches to the main sympathetic chain at each level are divided before the main chain is removed. The same procedure is done on the patient’s other side, which is crucial in preventing symptoms from recurring years later.
ETS is most effective in treating excessive hand and facial sweating, with a success rate of more than 98%. It also gives additional relief to excessive feet sweating. While it is a highly effective procedure with permanent results, it has very minimal complication rate. Incident of Horner’s Syndrome for instance, is about less than 1%.
As with most surgical procedures, ETS also has some side effects and the most common of which is compensatory sweating. Compensatory sweating occurs in about 50% of ETS patients. Also, there are reported cases of small pneumothorax after the operation, but in this case, no medical intervention is required and patients can usually go home after 24 hours.
While ETS is generally safe and a highly effective method in treating hyperhidrosis cases, it is still best for patients to look only for experienced, highly competent and certified surgeons for excellent and long-term results.
Hyperhidrosis Hands
Severe perspiration of the hands can take place on its own or in combination with extreme perspiration of the underarms, face and scalp, or feet. Facial blushing may also be experienced when sweaty hand disorder is present. The most common incidence in hyperhidrosis is the combination of extreme hand and feet sweating.
The condition of hyperhidrosis is caused by the over-stimulation of the sweat glands by the sympathetic nervous system. Hand perspiration can be extreme. A lot of individuals perspire so severely that dripping sweat can actually be seen on the floor. These can be observed even in the most frigid of conditions. A few individuals may not experience dripping sweat, but their hands are typically cold, discolored and clammy. Newspaper print easily mark their hands. Book pages tend to have curled edges due to the constant wetness of their hands.
Before the start of excessive perspiration, several individuals claim to have a tingling sensation on their fingers. One individual claimed, “it seems as if my skin pores are opening up.” The phenomenon is unintentional and cannot be deliberately controlled. There is an unusual interrelationship that develops between anxiety and severe perspiration. The relationship develops variably to a greater or lesser degree in most individuals with extreme hyperhidrosis disorder. The condition is frequently worsened by anxiety. The onset of symptoms usually provokes anxiety to the sufferer. A vicious cycle is unfortunately created due to this. Countless sufferers struggle to get away by pulling out of or staying away from stressful situations. This repetitive pattern is unhealthy and it only serves to create more emotional injury to the person.
People with hyperhidrosis would normally try to hide their hands when having conversations with other people. They may do one or any of the following things like placing their hands under their arms, putting their hands behind their backs or simply place them under their thighs. Numerous individuals with hyperhidrosis of the hands have reported that holding a cold drink in their hands during social occasions makes shaking other people’s hands socially acceptable. This is because people would tend to assume that the hand they just shook was cold, wet and clammy due to the cold glass.
One reported case about a young woman professional with hyperhidrosis of the hands mentioned that, before a job interview, she would rub her hands on her car’s tire. She would then tell the interviewer that she had had a flat tire and she shouldn’t shake his hand because her hands were filthy. This is a very unfortunate example of how people suffering from this condition try to adapt. This is primarily because people who are not familiar with this particular disorder has the tendency of looking down at the person with the condition.
Fortunately, with the latest advances in modern medicine, many forms of treatment are now available for palmar hyperhidrosis. Antiperspirants are the first choice in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Iontophoresis home kits are now available for patient use but the equipment that hospitals use is still stronger and more reliable. Botox on the other hand works well but it is quite expensive and the relief it offers only last from 6 to 12 months. Low dosage medication and surgical operations are also utilized to cure severe hyperhidrosis. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS can be a very effective technique to treat hyperhidrosis. However, great care must be taken in choosing a surgeon. This is due to the risk of side effects from compensatory sweating. The patient should consider everything carefully before deciding to undergo this procedure.
Hyperhidrosis Causes
Most of us experience sweating in the palms, feet and armpits. Producing sweat is almost a part of our daily lives. We treat this phenomenon as normal, sometimes unaware of the times that we produce excessive amounts of sweat. This is the primary symptom of hyperhidrosis. It is usually characterized by producing perspiration greater than the amount the body needed for thermal regulation. At first, we tend to disregard it, until we start feeling sticky in the armpits and our palms stay wet even while at rest. Soon, this uncomfortable condition begins to intrude into and affect your social life. It is probably the right time you knew more about excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis.
According to some studies, 3% of the total population suffers from hyperhidrosis. Most sufferers notice excessive sweating on specific parts of the body such as the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), face (facial hyperhidrosis) and feet (planar hyperhidrosis). As you see, sweating on these parts of the body is very common to most of us. We tend to be blind and treat this as normal, not knowing that it is already a symptom of hyperhidrosis. It is not widely known that such a disorder is a very serious medical condition that requires proper diagnosis and treatment.
Hyperhidrosis occurs when there is an abnormal response from the sweat nerves. A part of the brain called hypothalamus is responsible in sending the sensory signals to the sweat nerves. The hypothalamus is located in the chest cavity. The sweat nerves, as a part of the sympathetic nervous system, in turn throws signals to the sweat glands which results to producing sweat. When the signals violate the sending and response process, hyperhidrosis occurs. The sweat glands begin to produce excessive amount of sweats, and this liquid will seek outlets on your underarms, face, palms and feet, resulting to unwanted perspiration in such parts of our body.
We cannot purely blame all this to the uneven responses of our sweat nerves, however. There are a lot of factors contributing to why we perspire so much. By doing intense jobs and heavy activities such as vigorous exercise, we can expel extra liquid in our body. Our emotions can also trigger to generate sweat. Sweating stabilizes the corporal body temperature, especially when doing such activities.
Our skin glands are also the primary factor why hyperhidrosis occurs. Our skin has two kinds of glands: the apocrines and the eccrines. The apocrines do not contribute much in the regultation of body temperature. Basically, these glands can be found in the hair follicle and are not involved in the process of hyperhidrosis. The gland eccrines, on the other hand, is the major contributor for the hyperhidrosis. The increased secretion of the gland eccrines is the cause of such abnormalities. Eccrines are more concentrated in parts of the body such as the armpits, feet, palms, and are very important in regulating the body temperature.
Hyperhidrosis can be primary or secondary. Primary Hyperhidrosis has no specific origin. This is the most common type of hyperhidrosis and is attributed to a genetic factor. Everybody has the tendency to acquire primary hyperhidrosis, and this commonly manifests during the earlier stages of the person’s life. Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, is an acquired disorder due to an associated cause such as obesity, menopause and the use of antidepressive drugs.
Other factors such excess taking of drugs can cause sweating. Intakes of aspirin and acetaminophen, morphine, excess of the thyroid hormones, lack of feminine hormones during menopausal stage, testosterone deficit for men, and low rate of sugar in the blood can incite hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis
More and more people today try to follow an active lifestyle. Due to this, they are much more likely to be exposed to different people and activities than ever before. As our days get busier, we become less aware of our bodily functions, which also undergo increased activity as we encounter both physical and emotional stress on a regular basis. For most people, such stress causes the body to sweat.
Sweating is the body’s natural response to an intense situation. The nervous system immediately senses any stressors in the body’s immediate environment and signals the sweat glands to produce sweat. This helps the body, which naturally heats up during stressful moments, regulate its own temperature. This is most obvious when we are subjected to climates warmer than our own, when exercising, or when we feel nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.
While sweating is perfectly normal, excessive sweating may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Excessive sweating is normally defined as the state when the body produces more sweat than is needed to regulate the body temperature. Excessive sweating is also known by its medical term, hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis is a medical disorder characterized by excessive sweating at any part of the body. It is a medical condition that causes the sufferer to experience unpredictable and excessive sweating, even at cool and comfortable temperatures, or when they are at rest. Cases of hyperhidrosis usually affect specific parts of the body, such as hands, armpits and feet. Excessive sweating in the hands is called palmar hyperhidrosis; in the armpits, it’s called axillary hyperhidrosis; and in the feet, it’s called plantar hyperhidrosis. The sympathetic nervous system controls much of the sweating process, and any problem affecting it may affect the body’s perspiration system.
Hyperhidrosis can be primary or secondary. Primary hypehidrosis usually starts during or even before the individual’s adolescent stage. In primary hyperhidrosis, the affected part of the body may be the hands, feet, or armpits. Primary hyperhidrosis is also known as focal hyperhidrosis and can run in families. Often, sufferers ignore the symptoms of primary hyperhidrosis – according to studies, primary hyperhidrosis affects 2-3% of the population, and not even 40% of these sufferers seek medical advice regarding this disorder.
Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, may come unexpectedly. It can affect anybody at any age. This type of hyperhidrosis is the result of an underlying condition, such as a disorder of the thyroid or pituitary gland, diabetes mellitus, tumors, gout, menopause, certain drugs, or mercury poisoning. The symptoms of secondary hyperhidrosis may be more serious than primary hyperhidrosis.
Regardless of the type and reason for onset, hyperhidrosis poses a serious physical and psychological problem for the sufferer. The discomfort and embarrassment the condition brings may affect the individual emotionally, and may cause him/her to delay or even forego treatment. It’s important to set aside fears and see a dermatologist immediately once your levels of perspiration causes you to worry. Identified early, hyperhidrosis may necessitate only mild forms of treatment and be prevented from escalating any further.
Excessive Sweating Treatment
Hyperhidrosis , or excessive sweating, is a widespread disorder that affects many people. Palmar hyperhidrosis, or sweaty palms, is the most common type of hyperhidrosis. This disorder causes excessive sweating on the palms of the hands. Hyperhidrosis has also been found to cause profuse foot, underarm and facial perspiration. It is widely received that hyperhidrosis is an effect of the overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Sweating is frequently uncontainable, discomforting and unanticipated. Regular sweating is required for the thermal regulation of our bodies. On the other hand, people suffering from hyperhidrosis go beyond the body’s necessity for physiological thermal regulation. Hyperhidrosis is a hereditary disorder that has been observed in almost all racial groups.
People never get used to living with the condition of hyperhidrosis. People with this condition continue to suffer all through their lives. Hyperhidrosis can have severe physiological side effects such as cold and clammy hands, dehydration and skin infections secondary to maceration of the skin. Hyperhidrosis can also bring about devastating emotional effects on a person’s personal life. People with this disorder are continually conscious of their situation and they tend to alter their way of life to accommodate this disorder. This can be very tasking and disabling in professional, academic and social life. It can also lead to humiliation and shame in daily life. Several routine tasks become unfeasible.
Hyperhidrosis is a medical circumstance with very severe negative mental and emotional effects. Unfortunately, friends, peers, families and relatives of affected folks do not completely understand what they go through. Even some physicians do not comprehend the tremendous harmful impact that this disorder can have on one’s life. Luckily, with the modern advances in medicine, many forms of treatment are now on hand to cure hyperhidrosis. Medications and procedures, such as topical antiperspirants, iontophoresis, botox, and surgery can treat hyperhidrosis. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is by far the most successful technique to cure hyperhidrosis.
The California Institute for Hyperhidrosis and Facial Blushing offers a complete and helpful site concerning hyperhidrosis and the Endoscopic Thoracic method.
Profuse perspiration can be managed to a point with the aid of commercially available antiperspirants and deodorants. Nevertheless, stronger action is mostly required, particularly for the cure of excessive sweating of the palms, soles, armpits or genital region. Applying aluminum chloride solution before bedtime may help alleviate the problem. Prescription and non-prescription dosages of this medicine are available commercially. An individual must first dry the moist area and then apply the solution over it. If the reaction to the medication is not encouraging, a plastic film can be placed over the solution to increase its efficiency. After waking up in the morning the individual takes out the film and washes the area. If the solution irritates the skin, the use of the plastic film should be stopped. Some individuals may require at least 2 applications everyday to make this effective. This routine would normally give relief in about a week’s time. An application of once or two times a week is then needed to sustain relief.
For individuals to whom bad odor is a problem, washing the affected area two times everyday with soap and water would normally take away the bacteria and yeast that causes the unpleasant smell. In some cases, a few days of washing with an antiseptic soap can help alleviate the condition. This can also be combined with antibacterial creams. Shaving the hair in the underarms has also been observed to control the odor. Clothing should be washed regularly and kept clean.
Axillary Hyperhidrosis
Axillary hyperhidrosis involves profuse and tremendous perspiration of the underarms. This condition is usually accompanied by constant bad body odor that is typically resistant to commercially available deodorants and antiperspirants. Axillary hyperhidrosis poses a social and psychological risk in addition to the physical discomfort it causes.
Axillary sweating may occur by itself or in combination with any or all of the different kinds of hyperhidrosis disorders, such as in the palms, feet, or face. People afflicted by this disorder are discouraged from wearing particular clothes, materials and colors because the sweat leads to staining and deterioration of the fabric.
Profuse armpit perspiration can turn out to be an exasperating dilemma for those suffering from this condition. Axillary hyperhidrosis manifests itself through increased armpit sweat production and this is prompted by the sympathetic nervous system. A malfunction in the nerves controlling underarm sweat glands results in excessive sweat production. Axillary hyperhidrosis is at times triggered by external factors such as anxiety, psychological stress and tiredness. However, this is not a rule and there are still no evidently identified stimuli that set off unwarranted armpit perspiration.
Individuals suffering from axillary hyperhidrosis sometimes result to wearing clothes in layers, such as donning a jacket over a shirt. This way, the individual may conceal his shirt in case axillary hyperhidrosis kicks in at a bad time. It’s not uncommon for sufferers to have to change their upper garments two or three times a day, sometimes even more, due to the persistent sweating condition. Women suffering form axillary hyperhidrosis also shun garments made of delicate fabrics such as silk, since sweat marks tend to be very noticeable in such fabrics. Whatever the occasion, axillary hyperhidrosis is a cause for embarrassment for the sufferer, and may make him/her less socially secure.
This condition frequently starts during teenage years. There are, however, some cases that occur before puberty. Kids with axillary hyperhidrosis are at risk of social withdrawal at a very early age, as the other kids may find their condition a tempting target for teasing. The teasing often triggers a vicious cycle that intensifies the anxiety endured by kids during this phase, leading to a feeling of hopelessness. The idea that there is no answer to or escape from their embarrassing medical condition may lead to withdrawal and isolation, making recovery even more difficult.
People with axillary hyperhidrosis sometimes do not have the strength to open up and discuss their condition even with their own family. This is because they think that they are the only ones afflicted by this disorder. There have been instances when parents only learn about their children’s suffering after the condition has been hampering their social lives for a number of years. It’s advisable to seek professional help immediately when parents detect a lack of social interaction, grief, and low self-esteem in their child.
Treatment of hyperhidrosis often entails correcting the malfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Surgery to remove overactive sweat glands may also be the solution. Dermatologists are well-equipped to ascertain the most suitable treatments for axillary hyperhidrosis, as well as administering such treatments.


