Excessive Sweating
Ask our expert about the cause and treatment
About Our Expert
Michael F. Szwerc, M.D., is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
- I tend to sweat a lot. Could I have hyperhidrosis?
- How common is hyperhidrosis?
- Is there a long-lasting treatment for the disorder?
- Will insurance cover the cost of surgery?
- How successful is the procedure?
- Does the surgery have any side effects?
Q. I tend to sweat a lot. Could I have hyperhidrosis?
A. If excess sweating rules your life and causes you to feel embarrassed in social situations, you could have hyperhidrosis. The disorder usually affects hands and feet, and sometimes the face and underarms. Hyperhidrosis interferes with daily activities as people with this disorder may sweat through their leather shoes or need to wrap a towel around the steering wheel of their cars to keep their hands from slipping off. They may also have a hard time taking notes because sweat runs down their hands, blurring the ink.
Q: How common is hyperhidrosis?
A. It’s a rare physical disorder that affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population. We don’t know what causes it, but it could be hereditary.
Q. Is there a long-lasting treatment for the disorder?
A. Yes. The only long-lasting treatment is a relatively new procedure, done under general anesthesia, called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, or ETS. During the one-hour surgery, we make two or three tiny armpit incisions into which we insert small instruments and a miniature video camera. The instruments locate and divide the sympathetic nerve, which controls excessive sweating.
Q. Will insurance cover the cost of surgery?
A: Most insurance companies do pay for the surgery. To see if your insurance would cover it, please check with your provider.
Q. How successful is the procedure?
A: The majority of people (95 percent) get good results. In fact, most people walk out of the hospital two hours after their surgery and resume their normal activities, and return to work in a few days. The surgery causes little pain, and no stitches are required.
Q. Does the surgery have any side effects?
A: After the surgery, you may sweat on the back of your knees, lower back and abdomen. But most patients tell me these side effects are worth it and feel as if they have a new lease on life.
This page last updated 12/31/08 12:38 PM
