These 9 Surprising Reasons You're Always Sweating Have Nothing to Do With Menopause

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You never want to be the first person to ask the server to turn on the air conditioning in a restaurant or to start rubbing an ice cube over your forehead at a cookout. But if you have been more and more often lately, you may assume you've started down the path to menopause.
Meet the experts: Rebecca Booth, M.D., an ob/gyn with Women First of Louisville in Kentucky; Shraddha Shah, M.D., a family medicine doctor with Southern California Permanente Medical Group.
Not so fast, experts say. There are many other reasons why you're always hot that have nothing to do with the change. Here are some simple reasons that could be causing your constant sweating.
You have insulin resistance.
If you're sweating all the time (especially at night) or can't stand the heat, it may be a sign of insulin resistance. This means your body has a hard time keeping blood sugar levels in check. 'Sweat and the sensation of heat intolerance is more common in those who are prediabetic or insulin resistant' and is a common cause of hot flashes among patients, said Rebecca Booth, M.D., an ob/gyn with Women First of Louisville in Kentucky and an expert in hormonal wellness. Dr. Booth says blood sugar fluctuations may trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, causing your temperature to rise and fall.
Your thyroid is overactive.
If you always run hot, one likely culprit may be your thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. An overactive thyroid (or hyperthyroidism) pumps out too much thyroid hormone, revving up your metabolism and making you feel overheated, said Shraddha Shah, M.D., a family medicine doctor with Southern California Permanente Medical Group. You may also feel an increased sensitivity to heat and like your skin is warm and moist, per the Mayo Clinic, in addition to other symptoms like weight loss, an irregular heartbeat, increased appetite, and anxiety or irritability.
You're feeling stressed or anxious.
Feeling overburdened or overly anxious can lead to a case of the sweats. 'The rush of adrenaline can cause a feeling of warmth, which is easy to confuse with hot flashes,' said Dr. Shah. Indeed, sweat glands are activated as part of the body's fight-or-flight response, so sweating is a natural result of stress, according to Harvard Medical School. If you're feeling stressed, try practicing deep breathing exercises or taking a walk to calm your nerves and cool off. Feeling a little flushed is normal, but if you experience more severe symptoms, see your doctor.
You might be pregnant.
Fact: Your body temperature is supposed to fluctuate, especially during your reproductive years. Every month, after you ovulate, your temperature rises roughly a full degree and your body warms up like an incubator to prepare for pregnancy, said Dr. Booth. If you become pregnant, your temperature will stay elevated (and it drops if you don't). Plus, according to North Atlanta Women's Care, factors like increased blood volume and blood flow and a higher metabolism also make it easier to become overheated during pregnancy.
You had a little too much caffeine.
While some people struggle to function without their daily dose of caffeine, too much can cause more than just the jitters. 'Caffeine can increase heart rate, causing the sensation of heat,' said Dr. Booth. Research has shown that caffeine slightly raises your core body temperature, which can ultimately prompt sweating—especially if that caffeine is coming in the form of a hot beverage in a warm environment.
You ate spicy food.
The extra hot sauce on your tacos doesn't just make your mouth burn; it can also make your body flush. 'With spicy foods, the body sends blood flow to the face, tongue, and oral pharynx. As blood flow increases, you can feel hotter,' explained Dr. Booth. If you notice that certain foods make you sweat under the collar, keep a food log and talk to your doctor, suggested Dr. Shah. That way, your healthcare provider can work with you to adjust your diet.
It's a side effect of your medication.
We all know that prescription medications can have a long list of side effects. Hot flashes are a common one, especially with diabetes medication. 'If you take medication to lower your blood sugar and it gets too low, you can experience sweating,' said Dr. Shah. Other medications that can make you feel like you're living in tropical climes, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include some antidepressants, hydrocodone, levothyroxine, naproxen, omeprazole, and lisinopril. 'If you started new medication and notice that you're having hot flashes, keep a log to note your symptoms,' said Dr. Shah.
You drank too much alcohol.
'Alcohol relaxes the blood vessels in the face, causing a skin-warming sensation,' said Dr. Booth. But a few too many margaritas can cause nighttime sweats too. 'It can cause rebound wakefulness and sweatiness about three to four hours after you go to sleep. Your liver has processed the alcohol, and your blood sugar levels drop slightly,' said Dr. Booth, which can lead to sweating.
You're about to get your period.
In the days leading up to your period, your estrogen levels start to drop. 'With PMS, your body experiences a mini withdrawal from estrogen levels plummeting and it can precipitate a hot flash because declining estrogen can affect temperature regulation,' Dr. Booth explained. 'Many patients say they feel sweatier or have more body odor." Dr. Booth said that prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance, can also play a role. 'These chemicals start going up right before and during your period and help the uterus evacuate menstrual blood. But they can cause sweating along with digestive issues like loose stools and nausea,' she said.
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