Definition
The sensation in which you sweat suddenly and the skin appears pale and fresh is often identified with the term "cold sweat". Cold sweating is a consequence of very strong stress: the body reacts by releasing cortisol and adrenaline, substances that induce vasoconstriction and stimulate the sweat glands (while thermal sweating is associated with dilation of blood vessels). As a result, therefore, cold sweat is felt on the skin.
Cold sweating can occur in different situations, mild or very risky for health. For example, in case of indigestion, cold sweating can be interpreted as a transient and not alarming symptom. Conversely, a heart attack or injuries sustained following trauma can cause the body to react with cold sweat. Therefore, cold sweating may indicate a state of shock or extremely serious suffering in the body, which requires immediate medical intervention.
However, these dramatic events are generally associated with other signs of alarm, such as pain or a sense of pressure in the chest, palpitations, pallor of the face, vomiting with the presence of blood, difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness. It is important, therefore, that when you feel the sensation of cold sweat, beware of the other symptoms that occur.
Menopause, fever and hypoglycemia (excessively low blood sugar levels, also due to excessive intake of hypoglycemic drugs such as insulin) are among the conditions that can lead to cold sweat.
Cold sweating can also occur in emotional states such as stress, fear or anxiety.
Possible Causes * of Cold Sweating
- Anxiety
- Motion sickness
- Digestive congestion
- Pheochromocytoma
- Indigestion
- Heart attack
- Menopause
- Burns
