Unable to sweat?

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Fieldsy
Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
A friend of mine from work recently was unable to sweat during/after workouts. He is in his 40s and it just started happening. He tells me he feels like he is overheated and just an awful feeling inside. He tried wearing plastic bags, heavy clothing, working out hard, and not one drop of sweat. Has anyone ever experienced this?

Replies

  • sdoldsMD2013
    sdoldsMD2013 Posts: 128
    I have never experienced this, but I have read in the literature that in severe cases of overheating (such as heat stroke, etc.) the body will lose the ability to sweat. There is a rare genetic medical condition in which the individual is unable to sweat and regulate body temperature, but it is usually presents early in childhood. My advice to your friend would be to see a physician., to rule out anything potentially life-threatening (not implying that there is something life-threatening going on, but I prefer to err on the side of caution). Sorry I couldn't be of more help! :-)
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    How much water is he drinking? If he is drinking a lot of water and he's not sweating, then something can be wrong with him and he needs to go his doctor to make sure nothing is wrong with him. Some exercises can make a person break out in sweat and later on that same workout can hardly make a person sweat or don't sweat at all. Some people sweat more than others and some people don't sweat at all working out, but yet their body gets cool. The temperature can play an role in the way a person body cool off. Sweat is nothing but a person's cooling system.

    Tell your friend to go do a hot yoga class and see if he sweats. If he doesn't sweat in the heated room, then yes, something is wrong with him. If he goes and stands in the sun and don't sweat or go stay a few minutes in a hot room and don't sweat, then something is wrong. But, if he sweats in those condition, then it's the workout he's doing. It's no longer getting his to the pouring sweat level, if he was the pouring sweat type of person. He would need to up the intensity to the workout.
  • 7funnygirl7
    7funnygirl7 Posts: 1,176
    I actually do not "sweat"! I never have but get the "on fire", clammy, overheated feeling. My body is wet when I touch it, I just don't have beads of sweat dripping off of me. I dunno.!! :smile:
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I barely sweat and I workout hard.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    My daughter doesn't sweat. She says she feels hot and tired, but no sweat. She goes out skateboarding in 95 degree, bright sunlight and never sweats a drop. Zumba class for an hour? No sweat. She just doesn't.

    I, on the other hand, sweat enough for both of us!
  • sapalee
    sapalee Posts: 409 Member
    Weird that it just started happening. I would think dehydration.
  • missfayefaye
    missfayefaye Posts: 26
    Yes! It's a condition called "anhidrosis." Unfortunately, the only treatment is resting and cooling down. I try my very best to stay hydrated before I attempt any workout. I'd recommend a bottle mister to stay cool.

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anhidrosis/DS01050
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    I have never experienced this, but I have read in the literature that in severe cases of overheating (such as heat stroke, etc.) the body will lose the ability to sweat. There is a rare genetic medical condition in which the individual is unable to sweat and regulate body temperature, but it is usually presents early in childhood. My advice to your friend would be to see a physician., to rule out anything potentially life-threatening (not implying that there is something life-threatening going on, but I prefer to err on the side of caution). Sorry I couldn't be of more help! :-)

    She's right about the Dr. It certainly could be dehydration but it could also indicate the onset of a metabolic/autoimmune disorder. Adrenal and thyroid conditions can cause that. A simple blood test can determine if that's the cause. If it's not simple dehydration he should only exercise moderately until a Dr. gives him the all clear.
  • getfitnfab
    getfitnfab Posts: 418 Member
    I used to sweat, than I moved to US. Started using antiperspirant, stayed in a car, home or office.
    Finally realized not sweating

    Hot yoga, no sweat
    Did hot yoga on and off for 5 years, took liquid iodine, did a lot of research

    Most drs don't care they say you are eliminating in different ways
    Not true

    Have your friend figure out what works for him
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