April 2, 2009
No sweat can be dangerous
The inability to sweat can result in heatstroke or even death. POON CHIAN HUI reports on this rare condition
If a three-hour workout at the gym does not make you break out in sweat, you may have a relatively uncommon condition. This is what happens to
Ms Seetoh Yee Han, 53, a Mind Your Body reader who e-mailed us recently.
'I don't sweat at all no matter how hard I train,' said Ms Seetoh, an accountant who lives in Perth, Australia.
She described herself as a 'gym junkie' who attends various types of intense classes at a fitness club.
She wrote: 'I've searched the Internet for answers but, to date, I have not found anything that explains my body reaction.'
Even an outdoor workout session in Singapore's humid weather during her last visit here did not make her perspire.
'It was a hot and humid day and others around me were sweating like mad after about 10 minutes,' said Ms Seetoh, who travels to Singapore once a year to visit her family.
Dr Patrick Goh, consultant sports physician at Gleneagles Hospital, said she suffers from either reduced or absent sweating. Reduced sweating is called hypohidrosis, while anhidrosis refers to a lack of sweating.
The causes may vary: it may be genetic in nature, or brought about by illnesses that result in blocked sweat glands or damaged nerves. Certain medications may also affect one's ability to sweat.
The condition may not be life-threatening but sports and other intense physical activities may cause the body to overheat alarmingly.
'The inability to sweat can be quite dangerous as heat cannot be removed from the body,' said Dr Ang Chee Beng, consultant dermatologist at Ang Skin and Hair Clinic, Mount Alvernia Hospital.
Sweating is, after all, the body's way of cooling down. 'When the body overheats, you may get a heatstroke and, in severe cases, die from overheating,' said Dr Ang.
However, the consequences will not be as severe if the lack of sweating affects only a certain area.
'I once had a patient who sweats on one half of the body and not on the other,' said Dr Goh. Such a condition is less serious as the body is able to compensate by producing more sweat elsewhere.
There is no treatment available, said Dr Ang. Instead, excess heat has to be removed by external means, like taking a cold shower.
Sports physicians may also help patients prevent heat illnesses during exercise, said Dr Goh.
Dr Ang pointed out that hypohidrosis and anhidrosis are relatively uncommon, compared to its opposite form - hyperhidrosis, or profuse sweating.
'Excessive sweating is more common,' said Dr Ang. 'There are also more treatment options.' These include topical creams, Botox injections, laser and electrolysis treatments, as well as surgery to remove overactive sweat glands or part of the nerve that causes the body to sweat.
Meanwhile, Ms Seetoh prefers to look on the bright side of things.
'I've no fear of ever suffering from body odour,' she joked.
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