My perspiration is getting out of hand!
I SWEAT a lot and it isn’t helped by the warm weather. I have a new office job so can’t get away with wearing anything too casual. Please help! The job is stressful enough and the sweat patches are adding to it.
AS HUMANS we are hard-wired to respond to situations that trigger fear or anxiety. These are basic human emotions which set off our fight or flight response. The brain interprets these emotions as a threat and in turn starts to respond to that threat.
One of the automatic actions it triggers is sweat, and this is something that we can’t physically control.
Perspiring caused by stress or anxiety, for example, while giving a presentation, going to an interview or even going on a date, can add to the underlying pressure, meaning the more anxious you are, the more you sweat. That’s why your new job is making you perspire more.
Invest in an antiperspirant that you have confidence in, which contains a high percentage of aluminium chloride. Step away from spicy food, caffeine, energy drinks and alcohol. All of these have the potential to make you perspire. And wear light, breathable fabrics, stick to dark colours, and if you can get away with a smart sleeveless black dress, go for it, as it means you avoid those embarrassing armpit sweat patches.
You could opt for layers that you can shed as you start to sweat. Opt for natural fibres whenever possible — synthetic materials increase the sweat factor. A word of warning, however; silk is on the banned list for sweaty people because it tends to make perspiration worse.
If you do end up sweating, try and get it off your clothes as soon as possible. Sweat doesn’t smell, but if it dries into the skin or on clothing it can create an odour and a tell-tale stain. If you’re in a rush you will sweat more, so ensure you leave plenty of time to get to the office.
Have some tissues handy to mop away sweat, position yourself under the air conditioning or near a window and avoid bright lights if you can.
If your temperature is rising due to stress and anxiety, practise deep breathing to help regulate the flight or fright response. Exercise will actually help you de-stress and reduce any excess weight you are carrying — something which can contribute to sweating.
If things are really bad there are more targeted measures. Your GP can prescribe pills or a specialist doctor can administer Botox to the armpits to reduce sweating. Iontophoresis machines (which you can buy online) also safely deliver an electric current to the glands. This is like using a stun gun on them, shocking them into submission so you stop sweating. However, none of these treatments are permanent or without side-effects. I’M GETTING extremely bloated lately and am finding it really uncomfortable. It’s quite embarrassing as I’ve even been asked if I am pregnant. Do you have any advice? I think I might have irritable bowel syndrome.
BLOATING is an incredibly common symptom, which most of us experience at some point. In fact as a GP I would say it’s up there with other common presentations such as fatigue and aches and pains.
You haven’t mentioned any other bowel symptoms. If you have bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation and cramping tummy pain, then you are describing a very irritated gut, giving rise to what we call irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). At least one in five Irish people will experience IBS at some point in their lives. It is twice as likely to affect women and a new diagnosis is unlikely in anyone over 40.
Symptoms come and go, and invariably you feel better after you have opened your bowels. Flatulence can go hand in hand with these erratic motions but weight loss, blood and pain that keeps you awake at night are not associated with IBS.
Aim to eat regular meals and avoid processed, fatty or spicy food, fizzy drinks and alcohol. A food diary helps to identify triggers. Diagnosis is made based on your symptoms (there is no test) and while there is no cure, anti-spasmodic drugs can help.
Doctors sometimes prescribe antidepressants to patients with IBS because they work on the nerves of the gut. Probiotics are another common way to manage this condition.
Dietitians are increasingly using a low FODMAP diet for IBS sufferers. FODMAPs are carbohydrates found in foods, which may not be digested or absorbed fully. As a result they produce IBS-type symptoms in sensitive individuals. Not all carbs are FODMAPs, so a dietitian’s advice is imperative.
Finally, IBS often kicks off in times of stress, so acupuncture, hypnotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy may help. But don’t self-diagnose, see your GP. Bloating is occassionally a sign of something more concerning, so get it checked out.