Men with sweaty palms: what's wrong with them?

 Hyperhidrosis in the palms of men, scientifically referred to as the condition of excessively sweaty palms in the stronger gender, is more than just an irksome inconvenience. Rather, it serves as a telltale sign of a malfunction in the endocrine and hormonal systems, indicating unfavorable changes that are taking place within the male body.

Generally, hyperhidrosis of the palms tends to occur during adolescence, a period characterized by the instability of the hormonal system. It also tends to manifest as a warning sign of the onset of andropause, commonly referred to as male menopause, a period in which the androgenic activity of testosterone significantly declines. According to a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts in 2002 on male aging, testosterone levels begin to decline from the age of 30-35. During this time, the overall testosterone levels decrease by 0.8% per year, while free and albumin-bound testosterone decrease by 2%. Meanwhile, the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (hGHB) increases by approximately 1.6% each year. A notable vascular indicator, according to researchers, is heightened sweating of the extremities, which suggests that the process of testosterone decline has already begun.

The effects of decreasing testosterone levels during andropause are not only limited to sexual and reproductive functions but have a profound impact on the entire body. Sweaty palms serve as an alert to the body as a whole. This was established in studies conducted back in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States by Thomas and Hill. The subsequent development of the theory by Heller and Gordon in their work "Climax in Men: Its Symptomology, Diagnosis and Treatment" further established this fact.

Subsequent, more extensive studies confirmed that somatic pathology in all major diseases afflicting middle-aged and older men (such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and liver disease) was associated with significantly lower levels of testosterone in their blood compared to their healthier counterparts. Moreover, further studies revealed direct links between age-related declines in testosterone levels and cardiovascular disease, mainly affecting the cardiovascular system. For instance, a study conducted in 1996 by the San Diego Medical Center, an affiliated research center of the University of California, found that mortality rates from cardiovascular pathology in the 50-59 age group were 10.4% in men and only 1.2% in women. Meanwhile, the 60-69 age group had a mortality rate of 27.8% among men and 19% among women. In older individuals (70-79 years), cardiovascular mortality rates among women approached those of men at 39.1% and 47.6%, respectively.

Research in the 1970s noted the anti-ischemic effects of testosterone. Electrocardiogram recordings consistently recorded a decrease in the degree of ST-segment depression. Furthermore, a link between androgenic status and the degree of anemia in men was practically proven. As early as 1969, the Hamilton study had demonstrated that hemoglobin levels were lower in men undergoing surgical castration than in healthy men. This finding was subsequently corroborated by numerous scientists.

Currently, the "gold standard" for therapy and prevention of cardiovascular, endocrine, and systemic diseases is the prescription of testosterone drugs (GST) for middle-aged and older patients. Thus, upon observing the initial signs of andropause, such as sweaty palms, individuals are advised to immediately seek the attention of an endocrinologist or andrologist for examination and prescription of adequate treatment, which can positively impact not only male health but also activity and longevity in general.