Types of sweat. Volatile substances in sweat
Sweating- this is normal physiological function of the human body, which regulates metabolism, maintains water-salt balance, removes metabolic products from the body and is involved in thermoregulation. People sweat more in the summer months than in the winter. In hot weather, for example, the blood flow in the vessels of the hands is 30 times more intense than in extreme cold. People living closer to the equator have more functional sweat glands than people living in cold climates.
Normally, sweating increases during exercise, when high temperature environment, when consumed hot food and under stress. Women in menopause and girls sweat more during puberty. Also profuse sweating can be observed in overweight people.
Sweating provides protection and hydration to the skin - mixing with secretions sebaceous glands, sweat forms a thin film of water-fat emulsion on the surface of the skin.
Types of sweating.
Thermoregulatory sweating- It has great importance for cooling when body temperature rises, during physical activity or during emotional stress, stress. Speaking scientific language, our body supports constant temperature bodies through heat generation and heat transfer. Activity internal organs And skeletal muscles form heat that needs to be released outside, otherwise the entire system is in danger of overheating, so excess heat is eliminated through the surface of the body, mainly through the evaporation of sweat. As water evaporates from the surface of the skin, it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state and absorbs energy. Thanks to this, the skin, and along with it our body, cools down.
Our heat and cold receptors are located in the skin and internal organs, and signals from them travel to the central nervous system along nerve fibers. Central thermosensitive fibers are located in spinal cord, brain stem and hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the main integrative center of thermosensory pathways. The function of the hypothalamus is to maintain body temperature at 37 degrees Celsius or more high level when the temperature rises. Depending on the required and available temperature level, either the thermogenesis (warming) mechanism is activated through muscle tremors and spasm of skin vessels, or heat transfer (cooling) through the release of sweat and dilation of skin vessels. IN real life this state Everyone knows that in the cold, tremors naturally develop in the muscles, the skin becomes dry, cool and pale. An arbitrary increase in temperature can be achieved in extreme cold physical activity, up to the need to cool the body through sweating. Based on the pathophysiology of heat exchange, the method of warming by drinking alcohol is vicious. Thus, the dilation of skin vessels, although subjectively leads to warming, in fact contributes to further heat loss and cooling of the body. On the other hand, when the body temperature is elevated due to high ambient temperatures or high muscle activity, the body responds by secreting sweat and expanding blood vessels skin – the skin becomes moist, warm and red to the touch. Thermoregulation is a complex relationship between the rate of sweating and body and skin temperature. This also explains the large differences in sweating patterns between individuals.
Psychogenic sweating- occurs when emotional or mental stress and is not associated with the need to cool the body. Physiologically, it reflects a reaction to emotional processes associated with behavior and reaction to the world. However, unlike thermoregulatory sweating, in which the glands of the entire skin, under stress, emotions and other stimuli, they are mainly activated sweat glands located on the face, in the armpits, on the palms and plantar surfaces of the feet. Moreover, stress leads to vasoconstriction (spasm of skin vessels), while thermoregulatory sweating is accompanied by vasodilation (dilation of skin vessels). Numerous studies show that excessive sweating armpits, legs and arms are indicators of stress. The sweat glands of these particular zones react to adrenaline with wet palms, legs, and armpits. Therefore, stabilization of its nervous system is a step towards overcoming increased sweating.
Food sweating– observed when eating food at any temperature, intensifies when consuming spicy dishes rich in extractive substances, and alcohol. Compliance with certain nutritional rules and drinking regime- This excellent tools against sweat. During the hot season, it is recommended to drink more clean and cool water, giving up strong tea and coffee. Drinking any drinks or foods containing caffeine stimulates sweating. Spicy, fried, fatty and smoked foods increase the unpleasant smell of sweat. These same products often lead to irritation and inflammation on skin that is damp from sweat.
Amount of sweat.
A healthy person sweats constantly, but with varying intensity. Even when the body is at rest and at low air temperatures, 500-700 ml of sweat is released per day, while some of the sweat glands do not work. But in the heat or during physical activity, sweat production increases - the glands are capable of producing up to 10 liters of fluid per day. In tropical climates, sweating can reach 12 liters per day. At ambient temperatures above 50C°, up to 2 liters of sweat can be released in 1 hour. At maximum functionality, the sweat glands can produce up to 3 liters of sweat per hour, which can lead to dehydration. During a lifetime, a person secretes about 20 thousand liters of sweat.
Sweating in women and men.
Women sweat less than men. Women, under the same loads as men, sweat 2 times less. Scientists have found that this is due to differences in the evolutionary process of both sexes. At the dawn of human development, the main activity of men was hunting, which required more activity. That is why nature decreed that a man’s ability to sweat should be higher than that of a woman, as this helps the body cool down faster after physical activity. The second reason for increased sweating in men is the body weight factor - men themselves are larger than women, respectively, in them more water. Men's armpits often produce a more intense odor than women's because men's apocrine glands are more active.
The working principle of sweat glands.
The work of the sweat glands is regulated by the nervous system. Thermoreceptors of the skin, internal organs and muscles respond to high air temperature, intake of hot or spicy food and fluids, overheating of the body during heavy physical work, fever or emotional distress. The signal received from these receptors travels through complex neural pathways through the brain and finally reaches nerve fibers, which stimulate the secretion of sweat in the gland; in other words, a nerve impulse enters the sweat gland, causing its ducts to contract and release sweat. All this activity occurs without conscious human participation. He cannot force the sweat to flow in a stream or dry with the power of thought.
Location of sweat glands in the body.
Sweat glands are located in the middle layer of the skin - the dermis. The ducts of the sweat glands open on the surface of the skin and secrete a special secretion - sweat. Sweat glands are found in almost all areas of the skin. Their number reaches more than 2.5 million. The skin of the forehead, face, palms, soles, armpits and inguinal folds. In these places, over 300 glands open per 1 square cm of skin surface, while in other areas of the skin there are 120-200 glands.
Types of sweat glands.
There are two types of sweat glands - eccrine and apocrine. They produce sweat of various compositions.
Eccrine glands are located throughout the body (75%) and are active from birth. Their main function is thermoregulatory, they regulate body temperature: when water evaporates, the surface of the skin cools and protects the body from overheating. The sweat they secrete is a light liquid containing salts and various body toxins. Eccrine glands produce a much larger volume of sweat compared to apocrine glands, and the sweat they produce plays a key role in keeping the body cool. Sweat produced by the eccrine glands is brought to the surface of the skin through special ducts and pores.
Apocrine glands(25%) are larger in size compared to eccrine ones and are found only in certain places of the skin, for example, in armpits ah, the skin of the forehead, the genitals, the perineum. They become active only during puberty and do not take part in thermoregulation. The secretion of apocrine glands is not secreted directly onto the surface of the skin, as in eccrine glands, but in hair follicles. Apocrine glands produce sweat when we feel powerful emotions, stress, pain or performing physical exercise. Their secretory activity continues throughout life, physiologically fading with the onset of menopause. They secrete sticky milky looking a liquid containing fats, proteins, hormones and volatile fatty acids. The secretion of the apocrine glands is richer in organic substances, which, when decomposed on the surface of the skin, give it a special, Strong smell. It is believed that it is the apocrine glands that determine the individual smell of sweat. Their secretion has the ability to sexually influence the opposite sex, which is why apocrine glands are also called sexual scent glands.
Composition of sweat.
Sweat is a liquid complex composition. Sweat itself does not have a distinct odor (unless you abuse garlic, alcohol, or spices). Almost 99% of sweat consists of water, but also contains nitrogenous substances - urea, uric acid, creatinine and ammonia, which are formed in the body during the breakdown of proteins, as well as the amino acids serine and histidine, volatile fatty acid and their compounds, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine, copper, manganese and iron ions, urocanic acid, glucose, vitamins, steroid hormones, histamine and several other organic substances. In total, about 250 are released from the surface of the skin. chemical substances, which make up the individual smell of human sweat.
The color of sweat.
Eccrine glands secrete a clear, colorless liquid, while apocrine glands secrete a whitish liquid. But sweat under the arms can also be colored: yellow, reddish, bluish or greenish. Sweat is colored by color-forming bacteria, as well as substances that arise from metabolic disorders or are taken orally. Color, for example, is affected by copper, iron or iodine introduced into the body. Ferrous phosphate turns sweat blue.
IN different glands different sweat.
In a healthy person, the composition of sweat varies different areas skin. For example, on the neck it is saltier, and on the thighs, legs and back side the brushes are almost fresh. Axillary sweat contains more lipids and cholesterol, its pH ranges from 6.2-6.9, that is, close to neutral. The sweat of the eccrine glands is acidic: 3.8-5.6. The content of mineral and organic substances in sweat depends on the state of a person’s health and on what he eats. For example, if a person does not salt his food, his sweat will become less salty. Activity thyroid gland affects iodine content. With diabetes mellitus, the glucose content in sweat increases, and with liver diseases - bile acids. During intense physical activity, large amounts of lactic acid are released through sweat.
Sweat and personality.
Each person smells differently. Sweat contains antigens that correspond to a person's blood type. Therefore, sweat stains left on clothing can serve as evidence.
How does unpleasant odor appear under the arms?
The presence of sweat on the surface of the skin triggers the mechanism of odor formation. Apocrine gland sweat itself is odorless, but it contains relatively high amounts of lipids. A fatty and viscous liquid serves nutrient medium for bacteria, most often staphylococci, which live on the surface of the skin, feed on softened proteins and fats, multiply in sweat and decompose organic matter sweat, as well as dying skin cells near the sweat glands. IN axillary region there are about 150 various types bacteria and every square centimeter Armpits are inhabited by millions of bacteria. As a result of their activity, unsaturated fatty acids and ammonia compounds are formed, which smell unpleasant. It is this smell that you have to fight, because sweat itself can be removed from the body with a damp cloth or by taking a shower. And if a person consumes a lot of spices, onions and garlic, then his sweat will smell even stronger. Unpleasant smell Some medications can also cause this, for example, drugs that contain sulfur.
Once the skin sweats, it becomes salty. This means that other substances are released along with the water. Thousands of years ago, people knew that sweating is beneficial in some cases, since it cleanses the body. What comes out with sweat?
Composition of sweat
Depending on the characteristics of the body and environmental conditions, the composition of sweat may change. The amount of moisture evaporated through the skin also changes. The higher the ambient temperature and the lower the humidity, the stronger man sweats. This is no coincidence, because the liquid, evaporating, carries away part of the thermal energy and cools the body. The composition of sweat is also affected by the quality of kidney function and metabolic processes.
Doing hard physical work By straining, a person can lose more than 1 liter of water per day. But besides water, which is about 98-99%, sweat also includes other substances:
- protein breakdown products (ammonia, urea, lactic acid);
- sodium and calcium salts;
- potassium salt;
- phosphates;
- some fatty acids;
- some amino acids;
- compounds of iron, magnesium, sulfur;
- vitamins.
- antigens that can be used to determine blood group.
In total, there are about 250 chemical compounds that come out through the pores of the skin when we sweat. In patients diabetes mellitus in a sweat increased content glucose. If a person actively uses muscular strength, lactic acid is released. Iodine compounds and quinine obtained from medicines. Of course, the amount of all these substances is small, but with prolonged heavy sweating it has its effect.
Cleansing the body
Many nations have baths, saunas, and steam rooms. Their purpose is not only to cleanse the surface of the skin, but also to cleanse the body from the inside. It has been observed that after a person sweats a lot, he begins to feel better. This occurs due to the fact that, along with sweat, they are excreted through the skin. harmful substances, and the blood is purified. Harmful elements such as mercury and arsenic are released. The body relaxes, the muscles relax, and the body becomes healthier.
With intense and prolonged sweating, dehydration occurs in the body, so the lack of moisture must be replenished. Is it good to drink in dry saunas? Herb tea and ordinary clean water.
With a cold, a person may sweat a lot, so they give him something to drink. The perspiration released on the body cools it, lowering the temperature.
Phenols, acetone and ethanol, so it is believed that it is beneficial to sweat after drinking too much. However, it will not be possible to completely rid the blood of alcohol in this way.
The color and smell of sweat
There are two types of sweat glands on the human body. Apocrine glands begin to work only from the moment a person reaches puberty and are not located throughout the body, but only in some of its areas. They secrete a liquid that is whitish in color.
In contrast, eccrine glands cover almost the entire body, are active from birth, and secrete an almost completely clear fluid.
In a healthy person, sweat is colorless and odorless. The smell appears only after some time, when bacteria begin to actively multiply.
If kidney function is impaired, sweat may smell strongly of ammonia. The smell is affected by spicy, fatty food and some medications a person takes (especially those containing sulfur).
In case of metabolic disorders, taking toxic products or medications, sweat in the armpits may change its color to yellow or some other shade. Color can also be affected by bacteria living on the body. Iron compounds give sweat a bluish tint; copper and iodine compounds greatly influence the color.
Sweat contains substances that we perceive unconsciously (pheromones). They vary depending on a person’s gender and other characteristics of his body. These substances, together with other factors, can influence people's relationships and the choice of sexual partner.
It turns out that sweat performs many functions, and by its composition one can determine the state of health. Sweating is useful, but in moderation, and trying to completely cleanse the body only through sweating is useless, because percentage there are few impurities in it.
The sweating of each person is purely individual and depends on body weight, frequency physical activities, as well as the degree of hydration of the body. This process is vital for us so that we do not faint from the effects elevated temperatures. Wise nature has equipped the human body with three million sweat glands, the highest concentration of which is located in the area of the palms. It is believed that the average person in an aggressive environment loses from 0.7 to 1.5 liters of fluid per hour.
If, purely theoretically, you attach a volunteer to a treadmill, make him run all the time, and at the same time keep his body hydrated, he will not stop sweating throughout the entire process.
Amount of Sweat Is Related to Activity
The body is the most active people, when they exercise, releases 1.5 to 1.8 liters of fluid per hour. By comparison, triathletes can produce up to 4 liters of fluid in the same amount of time. During the Iron Man competition in Hawaii, some participants have been known to lose up to 15 liters of fluid over the entire combined marathon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and run).
Some interesting facts
Lawrence Sprit of the University of Ontario says sweating is not always constant, and after a person's body loses 3 to 5% of its body weight, sweating begins to slow down.
And physiologist Lawrence Armstrong proved that human body continues to sweat regardless of the degree of dehydration. And while the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses To sweat glands, we do this all the time. If the sweating stops, then something bad has happened to the person and he needs medical help. 
What happens when body temperature rises to a critical level?
If a person’s body temperature rises above 40 degrees, the body overheats, which, in turn, leads to protein denaturation. Tissue membranes lose their integrity, normal processes are disrupted, and the body goes into shock, the person loses consciousness or even falls into a coma.
Conclusion
Thus, the importance of sweat cannot be underestimated. Its function is to maintain an acceptable temperature for the body. It is safe to say that as long as a person is alive, he will always sweat.
Many people feel great discomfort when sweating, even when the amount of sweat is very small.
They are trying in every possible way to prevent this process.
However, not everyone knows how important this process is in a person’s life.
You can learn about what sweat is, its composition and what functions it performs from this article.
Letters from our readers
Subject: I got rid of hyperhidrosis!
To: Site Administration
Christina
Moscow
I have recovered from excessive sweating. I tried powders, Formagel, Teymurov ointment - nothing helped.
The human body contains more than 5 million sweat glands. They are located on various areas body:
- tip ;
- lips;
Sweat glands are absent only on the mucous membranes.
It has been known since ancient times that women sweat twice as much as men. However, there are periods when a woman’s sweat gland activity increases:
- second half menstrual cycle when progesterone is actively produced;
- menopause period.
The main function of sweat is thermoregulation. When the sweat glands begin to work actively, moisture appears on the surface of the skin, which cools it.
In addition, profuse sweating is observed during illness at high body temperature. When the virus enters the body, the active production of antibodies begins, which are aimed at destroying it. The higher the body temperature, the more antibodies are produced. At this moment the person sweats a lot.
Together with sweat, the waste products of bacteria, which accumulate in large quantities during illness, are removed from the human body. If they are not removed, intoxication of the body may occur.
Sweat fluid helps cleanse the organs of accumulated waste and toxins that are not excreted along with feces. Sweat also removes waste from the human body. chemical compounds formed as a result of the use of various medications.
Sweat is a liquid containing various chemical compounds. Its basis is water, which perfectly dissolves in itself various substances and removes them from the human body.
Sweat fluid cleanses the body of large quantity salts, which is why it may taste salty.
The composition of sweat largely depends on a person’s age and lifestyle. Hygiene, nutrition, bad habits largely determine what components it consists of.
Typically, sweat is odorless, but a person's nose can detect a slight aroma. This is due to the fact that pheromones are released along with sweat. Thanks to them, people develop an inexplicable attraction to each other, or, on the contrary, disgust.
For effective treatment experts advise sweating of the armpits at home "Dry Control" complex. This unique remedy:
- Normalizes psycho-emotional state
- Stabilizes sweating
- Completely suppresses unpleasant odor
- Eliminates causes of excessive sweating
- Suitable for adults and children
- Has no contraindications
An unpleasant odor may also form in the armpits and groin area, since it is in these places that a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria is formed. The products of their vital activity form a sharp amber.
In addition to water and salts, sweat may include:
- lactic, citric, ascorbic acid;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- ammonia;
- polyunsaturated fatty acids;
- urea;
- amino acids.
Despite such a large number of components, sweat fluid has no color, that is, it is transparent. Sweat can acquire a colored tint for many reasons. The appearance of yellow or blue sweat in the armpits may indicate large cluster bacteria.
Their waste products are the cause of colored sweat, usually yellow. However, it may indicate various diseases, therefore, it is necessary to consult with a competent specialist and undergo a series of tests.
It cannot be said with certainty that there is any specific norm for the amount of sweat. Office worker who conducts everything work time sitting on a chair, he sweats much less than a factory worker. But still, on average, the sweat glands secrete half a liter of sweat per day. When active, the amount can increase to 1-1.5 liters per day.
Sweating largely depends on nervous condition person. Many people face the problem of excessive sweating during their day. To do this, they are given an appointment sedatives. With strong psychoemotional disorder Doctors prescribe tranquilizers or antidepressants.
If a person begins to notice that he is sweating more than usual, and the sweating continues even after calm state, this is a reason to visit a doctor. Increased sweating(hyperhidrosis) may signal possible diseases. Before you can eliminate excessive sweating, you need to get rid of the root cause.
Sweating performs the most important function protect the body from overheating. Sweat glands are located on the entire surface of the body, their work is regulated sympathetic division autonomic nervous system. Intensity normal discharge sweat gland fluids different people not the same. Therefore, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is spoken of only in cases where copious discharge sweat causes constant discomfort significantly reducing the quality of life.
Today we will talk about the conditions that cause hyperhidrosis.
Changes in the level of female sex hormones
Hyperhidrosis is often one of the manifestations of menopausal syndrome. A woman periodically experiences hot flashes to the face, neck and upper chest, accompanied by increased heart rate and sweating. This can happen at any time of the day or night. If attacks occur no more than 20 times a day, the situation is considered normal and does not require medical intervention. When others join hyperhidrosis unpleasant symptoms(pain in the head or chest area, increased blood pressure, numbness of the hands, urinary incontinence, dry mucous membranes, etc.), the woman should consult a gynecologist regarding compensatory therapy.
Increased sweating of the whole body is also typical for the first two trimesters of pregnancy. It appears in the background hormonal changes and is considered normal. Hyperhidrosis in the third trimester is associated with an acceleration of metabolism, the accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the body or excess weight. warning signs may have an ammonia smell perspiration and the appearance of white marks on clothing, indicating kidney problems.
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Thyroid pathologies
Hyperhidrosis is one of the symptoms of abnormally high production of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). It occurs with the following diseases:
- nodular toxic goiter;
- Graves' disease (diffuse goiter);
- subacute thyroiditis.
Increased sweating caused by malfunction thyroid gland, sometimes manifests itself in pituitary tumors. If hyperhidrosis is combined with sudden weight loss due to increased appetite, hand tremors, disturbances heart rate, irritability and anxiety, you should urgently consult an endocrinologist.
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Fluctuations in blood glucose levels
Excessive sweating often occurs with diabetes. In this case, it is associated with a violation of thermoregulation. Diabetes of any type leads to destruction nerve endings, as a result of which adequate transmission of signals to the sweat glands becomes impossible. In diabetics, hyperhidrosis primarily affects upper half body: face, neck, chest and abdomen. Characteristic increased secretion liquids at night.
Hyperhidrosis may also indicate insufficient levels of glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia). In patients with diabetes mellitus, the cause of the problem is usually a violation of the diet or an overdose of glucose-lowering drugs. medicines. Healthy people sometimes lack glucose after heavy physical exertion. With hypoglycemia, cold, sticky sweat appears mainly on the back of the head and the back of the neck. The attack may be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, trembling and blurred vision. To quickly get rid of illness, you need to eat something sweet (banana, candy, etc.).
Source: depositphotos.com
Problems with the heart and blood vessels
Almost all diseases of cardio-vascular system to some extent accompanied by hyperhidrosis. Increased sweating is inherent in the following pathologies:
- hypertonic disease;
- atherosclerosis;
- obliterating endarteritis;
- angina pectoris;
- transient ischemic attack;
- vascular thrombosis.
In addition, sweat glands increased load work in people suffering from pericarditis or myocarditis.
