Excessive head/face sweating (hyperhidrosis) and dizziness often signal an underlying issue, commonly low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), stress/anxiety, heat exposure (heat exhaustion), hormonal changes (menopause, thyroid issues), or infections, with serious causes like heart problems or shock also possible; it's crucial to see a doctor for persistent symptoms or if accompanied by chest pain, confusion, or vision changes, as it can range from a common trigger to a medical emergency.
¹ Common triggers include heat, stress, spicy foods, and exercise. Medical factors such as thyroid imbalances or deficiencies can also contribute to excessive sweating.
Can neurological conditions cause hyperhidrosis? Yes, secondary hyperhidrosis can be caused by neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, or peripheral neuropathy, which disrupt the normal communication between the brain and the sweat glands.
If the excess sweating is due to an underlying medical condition, it's called secondary hyperhidrosis. Seek immediate medical attention if your heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea. Contact your doctor if: You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual.
Certain problems such as diabetes, heart failure, anxiety, and overactive thyroid can cause heavy sweating. And some drugs may cause heavy sweating as a side effect.
Intense sweating, regardless of temperature or physical activity, can be a warning sign of a heart attack, especially if combined with other symptoms like nausea, chest pain, and dizziness. You might also experience the symptoms of a cold sweat — clammy hands, sweating, nausea, pale skin, and a feeling of a deep chill.
These include:
Excessive sweating is a common symptom of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and lupus. Those with lupus are at higher risk of additional autoimmune diseases.
Mechanisms of Sweat Regulation and Secretion
The hypothalamus is the part of the CNS which regulates body temperature. Two innervation pathways connect the hypothalamus to several areas of the nervous system and the rest of the body.
A 2015 review of published scientific studies found that based on available evidence: topical glycopyrrolate, oral oxybutynin (an oral systemic medication) and intradermal botulinum toxin A (Botox injections) may be all recommended as first-line therapies for head/face sweating due to their effectiveness and safety.
Excessive sweating, especially sweating of the head, can be a sign of a vitamin D deficiency. A change in the amount you sweat or your sweating patterns should be cause for concern.
A wide range of medications can cause excessive sweating. Examples include antidepressants such as Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), and bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin SR). Prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol), NSAIDs, and Viagra (sildenafil) can also make you sweat.
Get plenty of rest, especially if you have a cold or flu, which can cause light-headedness. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have a fever or have been sweating. Do not drive or put yourself and others in danger while you feel light-headed.
“Red flag” symptoms should alert you to a non-vestibular cause: persistent, worsening vertigo or dysequilibrium; atypical “non-peripheral” vertigo, such as vertical movement; severe headache, especially early in the morning; diplopia; cranial nerve palsies; dysarthria, ataxia, or other cerebellar signs; and ...
Sudden-onset dizziness, loss of balance and coordination are signs of posterior circulation stroke, according to Cedars-Sinai experts.
Early warning signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, unexplained fever, joint pain/swelling, skin rashes (especially a butterfly-shaped one on the face), hair loss, mouth sores, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white or blue in the cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, lupus can be hard to diagnose early, but they often come in waves (flares) and affect various body systems.
Three key signs of Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes, dry mouth, and profound fatigue, stemming from this autoimmune condition attacking moisture-producing glands, though other symptoms like joint pain, swollen glands, and systemic issues can also occur.
Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
Adrenal Tumor Symptoms
Warning signs of lymphoma often include painless swelling of lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin), persistent fatigue, unexplained fever, and drenching night sweats, alongside weight loss, persistent itching, cough, or shortness of breath. Other signs can involve easy bruising, frequent infections, or abdominal pain/swelling, but these symptoms can also signal other conditions, so seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis is crucial.
Abstract. EXCESSIVE perspiration has been noted for a number of years to be one of the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure in this clinic. As a matter of fact, it is so frequent that our standard cardiac clinic sheet lists increased sweating as one of the symptoms to be checked on the first visit.
Three early warning signs of heart failure include persistent fatigue/weakness, shortness of breath (especially with activity or lying down), and swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, and feet, often accompanied by rapid weight gain from fluid buildup, all signaling your heart isn't pumping efficiently enough. Other key indicators are a chronic cough (sometimes with pink mucus) and heart palpitations.
Recognizing Heart-Related Dizziness
Associated Chest Pain: If your dizziness is accompanied by chest pain, pressure, or discomfort, it could be a sign of a heart attack or other heart issues. Chest discomfort should never be ignored, as it can be a warning sign of serious heart conditions.
Health conditions that might cause excessive sweating include: Acromegaly. Diabetic hypoglycemia. Fever of undetermined cause.