Survey study, 2021
Do women who sweat excessively have higher rates of PMS?
Yes. Women with excessive palmar sweating were 1.276 times as likely to develop PMS as women without excessive sweating. The study suggests a link through the nervous system.
What they did
The researchers used Taiwan's national health insurance database to identify women with excessive palmar sweating. They matched these women to women of the same age without excessive sweating. They then tracked whether these women were later diagnosed with PMS.
What they found
Women with excessive palmar sweating were 1.276 times as likely to develop PMS compared to women without excessive sweating.
What it means for you
There may be a connection between excessive sweating and PMS through the nervous system. Women with excessive sweating should discuss PMS risk with their doctor. The main limits are this study used insurance diagnosis records (which may miss cases), was done only in Taiwan, and we cannot know if one condition causes the other.
1.276
times higher rate of PMS in excessive sweating group
About the study
- Original title
- Increased Incidence of Premenstrual Syndrome in Females with Palmar Hyperhidrosis
- Authors
- Cheng CA, Liang YC, Chang YH et al.
- Journal
- International journal of environmental research and public health
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094697
Original abstract
Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder affecting the quality of life of women of reproductive age. In a previous study, sex hormone imbalances and alterations in autonomic function were present in PMS, with parasympathetic dysfunction and sympathetic overactivity during the late luteal phase. Palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) presents with oversweating, heat and emotional stimulation, sympathetic hyperactivity and parasympathetic hypofunction. We hypothesized that the incidence of PMS is increased in females with PH. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Database. The patients with PH were identified by the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) disease code 780.8. Female patients matched by age and index day were used as the control group. The incidence of PMS was considered an outcome by the ICD-9-CM disease code 625.4. The factors related to PMS were analyzed by Cox regression. Results: The adjusted hazard ratio for the incidence of PMS was 1.276 (95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.488) in females with PH. Conclusions: This study found a positive correlation between PMS and female PH patients. Patients and physicians must understand the relationship of PMS with autonomic function alterations and other risk factors to prevent this problematic disorder.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Is PMS becoming more common and more disabling worldwide?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does yoga or Pilates help reduce PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does taking alpha-lactalbumin supplement for three months help with period-related symptoms?
Systematic review, 2026
Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does a warm footbath help PMS symptoms and sleep quality?