|
|||||||||||
 |
Healthy You Archives |
Coping with Illness
When Sweating Takes ControlA local woman finds a cure for hyperhidrosis, or excessive perspiration She can play nowEileen Cahill, 55, enjoys playing puppets with her grandchildren, Sarah and Bailey, something she couldn’t do before surgery because of excessive sweating. She also plans to take piano lessons.But that asset becomes a liability for people who sweat very heavily—like Eileen Cahill of Green Lane. She suffers from a rare and socially crippling physical disorder called hyperhidrosis. Possibly hereditary, hyperhidrosis usually affects the hands and feet and sometimes the face and armpits. The 2 percent of Americans who have the condition are well aware that they do—sweating rules their lives. “They have to wrap a towel around the steering wheel to keep their hands from slipping,” says Glueck’s colleague, cardiothoracic surgeon Michael Szwerc, M.D. “And they can’t take notes because sweat blurs the ink.” Cahill chose not to have a receiving line at her wedding, to avoid having to shake hands. None of the many remedies she tried offered a permanent solution. Then, she learned of a procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). Doctors work through tiny armpit incisions to locate and divide the sympathetic nerve, which controls excessive sweating. Insurance usually covers the one-hour procedure, and 95 percent of patients get good results. After surgery, some patients develop mild to moderate sweating behind the knees or on the lower back or abdomen, Szwerc says, “but most think the side effects are worth it.” Cahill had ETS last October and left the hospital the same day, cured of her problem. “I’m so happy,” she says. “It’s wonderful having dry hands.” If You’re a Heavy Sweater“Heavy sweating seems to be genetic and tends to be aggravated by anxiety, caffeine, alcohol and spicy food,” says family physician David Glueck, M.D. “Menopause and certain drugs and illnesses also can boost perspiration.” Here’s how to cope:
Want to Know More about hyperhidrosis? Call 610-402-CARE. About relaxation classes at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network? Click here. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
ARTICLE TOOLS:
|
 March April 2006 Eating Healthy
Staying Fit
Caring for Mind and Body
Just for Women
Just for Men
Raising a Family
Heart of Healthy You
Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
Weight Control
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||||
