Ask Dr. Mike: Excessive Sweating & Why Do Some Smokers Live Long Lives?

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.

Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:

Hey Dr. Mike, just a question on sweating. I've always been prone to sweat a lot, even in my teenage years. I'm very fit, working out six days a week for at least two hours a day. My personal trainer/friend barely breaks a sweat, but I'm drenched. Why do some people sweat more than others?

There's a condition known as hyperhidrosis, an abnormal sweating disorder which causes you to sweat during times unrelated to exercise or temperatures. However, Dr. Mike doesn't think you have this since you mentioned it occurs while working out.

If you're sweating excessively during your workouts there could be a number of things contributing to it; caffeine, or you might just have more sweat glands, so you produce more sweat. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do. Dr. Mike suggests to just embrace it.

Have they really discovered why some smokers live really long lives?

It looks like there are some smokers who have a cluster of genes where there's these slight changes (mutations) that are providing a protective benefit from the toxins and smoke.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.