Physical exertion, such as sports, makes the muscles work. As a result, our body temperature rises and we have to counteract this process by sweating so that our body does not overheat. 

The different sweating behavior of people is also dependent on physical activity. People who are not active in sports start sweating even at low levels of physical activity. This is because their circulatory system is overtaxed at minimal exertion, their pulse rate and body temperature rise, and they begin to sweat in order to regulate their body temperature.

Athletes, on the other hand, only start sweating at very high levels of physical activity. All things being equal, exercise is less strenuous for the athlete than for the untrained person. The athlete also has a lower heat production and therefore sweats less.

When the outside temperature is high, our body also sweats quickly. The heat causes our body temperature to rise and heat regulation takes place via the evaporation of sweat through the surface of our skin. 

Not only the heat, but also the humidity that accompanies it determines our sweating behavior. When the outside temperature is high and the humidity is high, our body sweats. 

Furthermore, our choice of clothing influences when we are hot or cold. When the outdoor temperature is high, improper clothing can make our body sweat quickly and excessively. The sweat stains and sweat smell are finally unavoidable.

On the first date, during exams or presentations at work or school, we quickly start to sweat. Nervousness, excitement, anger or fear trigger emotional sweating, which can be noticed on the armpit, feet, hands, or forehead. 

Emotional sweating does not serve the purpose of cooling the body, as it does during physical exertion or when the outside temperature is high. In the case of fear or excitement, the stress hormone adrenaline is released, which stimulates our sweat production, although our body is in a state of rest. The inner restlessness therefore has a significant effect on our nervous system, with the consequence that we sweat excessively and the sweat stains and the smell of sweat can no longer be avoided.

During menopause, many women between the ages of 40-50 experience a fundamental hormonal and physical change. Similar to puberty, those affected suffer more from excessive sweat production. During menopause, women lose more and more female hormones, making them incapable of procreation because ovulation can no longer be triggered. 

This drop in female hormones can cause sufferers to struggle with hot flashes and sweating. 

However, the severity of the symptoms and the duration of menopause varies from individual to individual.

Pregnant women also have to adjust to the hormonal and physical changes. Hot flashes, increased sweating and mood swings are not uncommon during pregnancy. Expectant mothers feel that they sweat more than before pregnancy. The reason for sweating during pregnancy is that the body needs to be supplied with more blood. 

People who are very overweight suffer a lot from health difficulties. Those affected also produce an excessive amount of sweat. It is therefore not uncommon for these sufferers to also struggle with heavy sweating, such as hyperhidrosis. In the case of greatly increased body weight up to obesity (adiposity), the body has a difficult time maintaining regular bodily functions. Under special circumstances, such as additional physical stress, the sweat glands react more extremely to the effort.

Pathological sweating, also called hyperhidrosis, is when too much sweat is produced, even if the cooling of the body would not actually be necessary. There are many diseases that cause excessive sweating, e.g. thyroid or fever. In the case of hyperhidrosis, however, excessive sweating cannot be traced back to an underlying disease.