Cold Sweat - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Cold sweat or diaphoresis is sweat that appears not caused by exercise or hot weather. This condition is not related to the weather being cold or hot. Cold sweats can appear on any part of the body, but generally appear on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and underarms.

Cold sweats are different from sweat that occurs during sleep (night sweats). Night sweats experienced only during sleep, and occurs throughout the body. While cold sweat can be experienced at any time.

Cold sweats, also known as secondary hyperhidrosis, are symptoms of a number of medical conditions, some of which are dangerous and classified as emergency.

Causes of Cold Sweat

There are various conditions that can cause cold sweats, as will be explained below:

Shock

Hypoxia

Hypoglycemia

Hypotension

Hyperthyroidism

Infection

Cancer

Heart attack

  • Hard to breathe.
  • Chest pain that feels like pressure.
  • Pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw, stomach and back.
  • Dizziness and feeling like you might pass out.

Vertigo

Migraine

Nauseous

Pain from injury

Faint

Menopause

Menopause is a condition when the balance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone changes drastically, causing the menstrual cycle to end. Cold sweats commonly appear accompanied by hot flashes during menopause and perimenopause (the period after menstruation starts infrequently until it stops completely and enters menopause).

Stress

Drugs

  • Antibiotics, for example ciprofloxacin.
  • Pain relievers, such as oxycodone, naproxen, and celecoxib.
  • Hormonal drugs, such as levothyroxine.

Cold Sweat Treatment

Treatment of cold sweats depends on the underlying cause. For example, a cold sweat caused by a heart attack requires intensive care in the hospital.

For intractable causes, such as menopause, your doctor may prescribe an antiperspirant that contains 10 to 15 percent aluminum chloride. The content of aluminum chloride will work to clog the sweat glands in the skin.

The next method to deal with cold sweat is iontophoresis. In this procedure, a low electric current is delivered to the patient's skin, temporarily blocking the sweat glands. In general, this procedure is performed to reduce sweating in the armpits, palms, and soles of the feet.

Another option for dealing with cold sweats is injections botulinum toxin (botox). Botox works by blocking the nerves that signal the production of sweat.