Health Tips for August 28

Health Tip: Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating -- even when at rest -- is a medical condition called hyperhidrosis. It's caused by overactive sweat glands, which produce sweat for no reason, even when the body is cool. It most often causes excessive sweating in the feet, hands and armpits.

Here are suggestions on how to help control hyperhidrosis, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Strong antiperspirants containing 10 percent to 15 percent aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
* Anticholinergic drugs, which help reduce stimulation of the sweat glands. Beta-blockers or benzodiazepines may help reduce stress-induced sweating.
* A procedure (iontophoresis) that uses electricity to temporarily stop sweat glands from functioning.
* Botox injections in the underarm.
* Minimally invasive surgery to reduce excessive sweating in the palms.

Health Tip: Soothing a Sore Throat

A sore throat can be caused by many factors, including allergies, tonsillitis or the common cold.

Try following these suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians on how to help a sore throat:

* Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen.
* Gargle a few times daily with a warm salt water solution, created with one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water.
* Suck on hard candies or throat lozenges throughout the day to keep the throat moist.
* Eat a frozen dessert, such as a popsicle or ice cream, to soothe the throat.
* In the less humid months of winter, keep a humidifier going in the bedroom while you sleep, and in other rooms you frequent during the day.
* Drink plenty of fluids.