Is excessive sweating a sign of heart disease?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 14, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Excessive sweating can be a sign of a heart attack and may be associated with other symptoms including:

Pain or pressure in your chest or arms that radiates to your neck, jaw or back
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Nausea or indigestion
Fatigue

Sweating may also be associated with atherosclerosis, which is a condition where the arteries are narrowed by the buildup of fatty deposits called plaques. Atherosclerosis can lead to a heart attack and heart failure. As the condition progresses and the arteries become narrower the body has to work harder to deliver blood to vital organs, such as the heart. Angina, or chest pain, can occur when not enough oxygen-rich blood reaches the heart. People with angina often break out in a cold sweat.

Sweating, particularly at night, is also a sign of another heart-related condition called subacute endocarditis. Subacute endocarditis is an infection of the membrane that lines your heart chambers and heart valves. Subacute endocarditis tends to develop more slowly than the acute form of the illness.

When excessive sweating is due to an underlying medical condition such as a heart attack, angina or subacute endocarditis it is called secondary hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Primary focal hyperhidrosis, which is the more common form of hyperhidrosis, is not caused by an underlying medical condition.

Although sweating can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, it’s also your body’s way of cooling itself. It is normal to sweat more during exercise or in hot weather. It is also normal to sweat more when you are nervous or stressed, especially on the palms of your hands.

What types of drugs are used for treating heart disease?

The most common medicines used to treat and help prevent worsening heart disease include:

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) and other cholesterol-lowering medicines
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Calcium channel blockers / calcium antagonists
Beta blockers
Isosorbide or nitroglycerin
Antiplatelet drugs, like aspirin or clopidogrel
Warfarin or other blood thinners

Why is physical activity so important in preventing heart disease?

Physical activity prevents heart disease by helping you maintain a healthy weight and keeping your joints mobile to allow you to do daily activities such as climbing stairs and shopping. This keeps your heart pumping and blood and oxygen flowing around your body. Physical activity has also been shown to lower stress hormones and reduce your risk of depression or cognitive decline (this is how you think or learn, and your judgment skills). When you feel good about yourself and the world you live in, then you are more inclined to be active and to take good care of yourself, which helps your heart as well. It also boosts your immune system, causing changes in antibodies and white blood cells which are the body’s immune cells that fight disease. This can lower your risk of catching infections, such as the cold or the flu, or help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. Continue reading

How can you check for heart disease at home?

You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. To measure your pulse you will need an analog watch (one with a clock face rather than digital numbers) with a second hand. Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the hollow part of your inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulse against your fingers, that is your heartbeat. Look at your watch and count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to find out your heart rate for 1 minute. Continue reading

Is excessive sweating a sign of heart disease?

Read next

What types of drugs are used for treating heart disease?

Why is physical activity so important in preventing heart disease?

How can you check for heart disease at home?

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