Contents:
- Medical Video: Why do we sweat? - John Murnan
- What is hematohidrosis?
- Causes of blood sweat
- How to deal with blood sweat?
Medical Video: Why do we sweat? - John Murnan
Sweat is basically water, which contains little traces of chemical compounds such as ammonia, urea, and sodium (salt). But there is a super rare condition that makes a person sweat blood. As experienced by a 21-year-old woman from Italy, who sweated blood from her face and palms in the last 3 years. This condition is called hematohidrosis. What causes it and is it dangerous?
What is hematohidrosis?
Hematohidrosis is a rare condition that makes a person sweat blood. This condition is also known as hematidrosis or hemidrosis.
The whole body can sweat blood due to hematohidrosis, but the face and forehead are the most common places. Usually blood sweat will last only about one to five minutes.
In the case of hematohidrosis, blood that seeps out of the skin is healthy and shows no signs of open wounds, like normal sweating. Some people may also be able to cry blood.
Causes of blood sweat
The exact cause of hematohidrosis is unknown, because this condition is very rare and is not clearly understood. The latest guess is due to abnormal "narrowing and widening" activities in the blood vessels closest to the skin. As a result, blood passes through the nearby sweat glands.
However, hematohidrosis generally occurs when a person feels very scared or stressed. Both of these negative emotions cause the brain to release large amounts of the hormone cortisol. This is usually temporary and does not cause damage to health in the long run. However, in rare cases can cause rupture of small blood vessels, so that blood can come out through the sweat glands.
In addition, according toGenetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) out of blood sweat may be related to bleeding disorders such as difficult blood clots or high blood pressure. Other theories suspect thathematohidrosis can be caused by psychogenic purpura. The psychogenic purpura is spontaneous bleeding and bruising without injury or other known causes.
How to deal with blood sweat?
Hematohidrosis is not life-threatening. Because so little is known about hematohidrosis, there is no clear guide to how to deal with it. To stop bleeding from the surface of the skin, treatment usually includes stress management and managing the emotions that trigger the disorder.
Doctors may carry out various diagnostic tests, to help them:
- Check blood count
- Check platelet count
- Leaving aside the possibility of bleeding disorders
Some doctors may also recommend laboratory tests to check your kidney and liver function. Urine and stool samples are also possible to check for other abnormalities. Having your stomach or endoscopic gastrointestinal ultrasound can also help get rid of other conditions.
If laboratory tests do not find abnormalities, and if you also experience excessive pressure, your doctor may recommend treatment to help you overcome fear, stress, and other emotions. This can include taking antidepressant drugs or anti-anxiety drugs. Your doctor may also recommend psychotherapy.
