Question: Can very heavy sweating in a young male adult, being literally drenched, be an anxiety attack, sign of a heart attack or other neurological or vascular problems? Thank you for your answer. E Benson

Answer: Dear E Benson,

Extreme heavy sweating can be by itself a condition, also known as Hyperhidrosis. People that suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat excessively even when the temperature is cool and they are resting.

Most people that suffer from this condition have overactive sweat glands. Other conditions can also cause excesive sweating such as:

- Hyperthyroidism
- Anxiety
- Certain medications
- Heart/lung disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
- Menopause