Anxiety disorders, social anxiety and general anxiety disorders - related symptoms and effective treatments:

Excessive sweating is a well known symptom of anxiety disorders. The sweating occurs due to an overactive sympathetic nervous system producing acetalcholine and releasing these chemicals into the sweat glands, thereby, producing the excessive perspiration that can compound the embarrassment of the condition. One often finds themselves having anxiety, then sweating. You then notice the sweating, then the anxiety increases. It becomes a vicious cycle. An effective way that many people with anxiety, including myself, can treat sweating, is with the most effective over the counter antiperspirant called Maxim®. Maxim® is so effective, surgeons who perform a radical surgery called ETS (endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) to stop sweating in the hands and face, are recommending it for moderate hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). There is more information on our home page and a good clinical study showing the efficacy of Maxim if you click this hyperlink.

I would definitely encourage those who suffer from excessive sweating due to anxiety to consider trying Maxim, it is the only product that works for me and the many people you can see in the testimonial section. It costs $13.95 + $5.50 for shipping and handling and will last you about 2-3 months if you use it every night.

The way Maxim works is by using a patent pending formula of aluminum chloride. Most conventional antiperspirants utilizing aluminum such as Mitchum, do not work on heavy sweaters. Maxim's formula acts directly so the sweating is significantly reduced. Maxim's aluminum is also safe as the American Cancer Society indicates on their site with a statement regarding antiperspirants containing aluminum.

Facial blushing can also be a symptom of hyperhidrosis. While doctors don't know why hyperhidrosis starts, the most likely cause is a genetic one. They have successfully linked it to over activity in the sympathetic nervous system. Specifically, it is the Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglion Chain, which runs along the vertebra of the spine inside the chest cavity. This chain controls the glands, known as the apocrine and eccrine glands, responsible for perspiration throughout the entire body. The eccrine sweat glands are mainly concentrated in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In most cases the hands and feet are effected. To a lesser degree, the face and armpit (axillae) regions are effected. Another manifestation of the hyperactive sympathetic activity is facial blushing and anxiety. Sometimes people perspire heavily because of other illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, psychiatric disorders, menopause and obesity. These causes must first be ruled out before Primary Hyperhidrosis can be diagnosed.© 2001 Center for Hyperhidrosis. All rights reserved.

Anxiety Medications that I have found to be effective to alleviate facial blushing accompanied by anxiety, include beta blockers, alpha blockers and SSRI's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, such as Paxil or Zoloft). Beta blockers with the exception of lopressor, including tenormin, atenolol, work selectively on the beta receptors of the heart. When the brain sends signals to the heart to speed up, beta blockers block the uptake of adrenaline which causes the heart to race and subsequent flushing that occurs on the face and neck. Loppressor works on the CNS to do the same thing.

Facial blushing medications also include clonidine which is an alpha blocker. Clonidine works as a vascular stabilizing medication so that the vessels don't constrict or dilator. It's calming affect is used to treat anxiety disorders, hot flashes, flushing and sleeplessness. Clonidine can make your mouth dry cause severe drowsiness.

www.stopsweat.com www.coradhealthcare.com www.excessive-sweating.com, www.excessiveunderarmsweat.com www.hyperhydrosis-hyperhidrosis.com www.maximotc.com www.excessive-sweating-hyperhidorsis.com www.stop-sweating.com, www.sweating-hyperhidrosis.com