- 1. Hypoglycemia
- 2. Hypotension
- 3. Stress and anxiety
- 4. Decrease in oxygen
- 5. Generalized infection
- 6. Shock
Cold sweat is a reaction of the body that happens as a consequence of the general reaction that the body has in the face of a situation of danger, fight or flight, in which there is oxygen deprivation, being very common in situations such as hypoglycemia, hypotension, anxiety, hypoxia, generalized infection and shock.
Thus, whenever this symptom is recurrent, a general practitioner should be consulted to assess whether there is a problem that may be at its origin, initiating the most appropriate treatment. Some of the most common causes include:
1. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia usually occurs when blood sugar levels drop below 70 mg / dl, causing symptoms such as cold sweating, headache, fainting, blurred vision, mental confusion, weakness, malaise, nausea or drowsiness. See more symptoms that may occur during hypoglycemia.
To find out what the blood glucose values are, you can do a quick test with the handheld device, called a glucometer, or go to the health center to have the measurement done, which is mostly free.
What to do: At the first symptoms of hypoglycemia, the person should sit down as soon as possible and eat foods rich in sugar or easily digestible carbohydrates, such as a fruit juice, a candy or a cake. If the symptoms persist, or the person passes out, a little sugar should be put under the tongue and seek emergency assistance to get medical help.
2. Hypotension
When hypotension occurs, better known as low blood pressure, there may be a decrease in oxygen reaching the brain and some organs, which may not only cause cold sweats, but also dizziness, palpitations, weakness, blurred vision, malaise, pallor or fainting.
What to do: During a hypotension crisis, the person should try to raise the legs so that they are in a position above the trunk and drink fluids. Know what you can do to avoid having low blood pressure.
3. Stress and anxiety
In situations of stress and anxiety the body reacts by producing cold sweats mainly on the forehead, hands, feet and armpits. In addition to these symptoms, the person suffering from anxiety may also experience muscle tension, malaise, nausea, retching, palpitations and tremors. See other symptoms you may experience in anxiety situations.
What to do: There are some ways that can help control anxiety like getting a relaxing massage or taking a warm bath, taking natural remedies like chamomile tea or passion fruit juice. In more severe cases where it is difficult to control anxiety, psychological monitoring or even medications that can be prescribed by the doctor may be necessary.
It is also important that in cases where the symptoms of the anxiety crisis are intense, the person is referred to the hospital so that the possibility of a heart attack is ruled out.
4. Decrease in oxygen
In cases of hypoxia, which is a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body, symptoms such as cold sweating, shortness of breath, weakness, mental confusion, dizziness may occur and in more severe cases fainting and coma that can lead to death, for example. this is due to go to the emergency room urgently as soon as the first symptoms occur.
The decrease in oxygen can occur in situations where blood circulation is poor, in cases of intoxication, when in places with altitudes above 3000 meters, in people with lung diseases or with anemia.
What to do: Treatment consists of using an oxygen mask to normalize blood levels and resolving the cause of hypoxia with specific treatments such as nebulization for asthma, medicines to improve the functioning of the lungs or heart, treatments for anemia or antidotes for poisonings, for example. In severe cases, the use of artificial respiration may be necessary.
5. Generalized infection
Generalized infection or sepsis is an infection by bacteria, viruses or fungi that affects several organs of the body, which can lead to its failure and hamper its oxygenation, which can cause cold sweats, high fever, tremors, pressure drop or tachycardia.
What to do: Treatment for generalized infection consists of taking antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatories and replacing fluids. However, these measures may not be sufficient, and artificial respiration in an intensive care unit may be necessary.
6. Shock
During a state of shock, which can occur due to a major trauma, blow, allergic reaction or an accident, a drop in oxygen can occur, preventing the organs from receiving the sufficient amount they need to function, which can cause symptoms such as cold sweating, pallor, increased pulse rate, nausea and vomiting, weakness, dizziness or anxiety.
What to do: the person who goes into shock may or may not be conscious, but in all cases it is advisable to seek medical help immediately, call the ambulance or take the person to the emergency department to receive treatment as soon as possible.
