Date experts say that the gym is on the list of places where you can make friends and meet your future partner. But the mission is impossible: you sweat and smell so bad during training. From another hand, sweating shows that you are working out really hard. There is a popular line among the fitness set. It says: ‘Good things come to those who sweat’. Sounds great but there is nothing about body odour.
According to Consumer Health, sweat made of small amounts of urea, sugar, salt and water. During training, your body loses electrolytes. This process helps support muscle function, brain activity and hydration. When you are running or riding a bicycle fast, the temperature of your body is rising. The sweating, in turn, is a natural response of your brain that wants to cool things down. It is also considered a form of an adaptation.
The amount of sweat is different for every person. For instance, overweight people sweat more since they have thicker layers of fat. Also, there are gender differences: even though women have a few million sweat glands, men usually sweat more. It can be explained by the fact that men have more overall body mass. An interesting fact is that prepubescent kids tend to sweat the same way.
It is crucial to understand whether your sweat is normal or there is something more to learn.
Excessive sweating during exercise
The first and most important thing is that sweating during exercise is really healthy.
If it disturbs you, you can find the right antiperspirant. Sometimes people have skin irritation because of a low-quality product. If you see any red spots, it is better to throw your antiperspirant straight away. The timing of putting it on also matters. Dermatologists recommend using antiperspirant twice a day: before bedtime and in the morning. According to David Bank, a dermatologist from New York, this way it can help get into the sweat glands and block them.
Another thing that can help you stop sweating after an intense workout is a cold shower. It can help your body cool down and dry off post-workout. If you don’t have time for a shower, you can at least soak your feet in cold water.
Some people wear extra layers during exercise because it helps them to sweat more. However, it is not the healthiest way to achieve desirable results. These athletes put themselves at risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. You can have extra clothes only if you exercise outdoor and it is cold.
Sometimes people sweat so much because of anxiety and stress. The thing is that stress can activate your fight reaction and raise the temperature of your body. Don’t worry about this, it is an entirely normal and healthy reaction. Consider it a human survival mode.
Sudden excessive sweating
People sweat not only at the gym. You might hear bad news and start sweating like a horse. You need to keep track of your sweating and make an appointment with the doctor in case you suspect anything. In some cases, your sweating can be the sign of a medical condition such as hyperhidrosis (primary focal hyperhidrosis), diabetes, or unrelated disease.
Also, pregnant women sweat more than usual because of increased hormone levels and blood flow. If it is your case, you should understand that it is just a part of the process. Try to drink a lot of water, avoid spicy food and hot environments.
Excessive sweating can also be caused by the medications you are taking. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your pills.
Preventing body odour
If sweating is a normal reaction during the training, a peculiar smell can make you feel humiliated. Bacteria use the sweat as a breeding ground. That’s why it stinks. The worse part is that it can be everywhere – your armpits, anus area, feet, and upper thighs. Beside using antiperspirant every day, you should wash your workout clothes after every training. Don’t leave them for the night in your locker since they are a bacteria-breeding ground.
Also, you can change your diet in order to prevent body odour. Try not to eat curry, garlic, onions, oils and other strongly-smelling foods before going to the gym. The thing is that it seeps through your pores and causes this horrible smell.
If you want to prevent the accumulation of bacteria, shower after every workout and shave your underarm regularly. You can use antibacterial soap to get rid of some bacteria. After a shower, you need to dry yourself with the towel completely, especially in the places where you sweat a lot.
In case, nothing listed above helps, make an appointment with your doctor to learn more about the nature of your sweating.
To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.
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