My Stomach Sweats When I Exercise

Though sweating is most commonly seen under the arm and down the back, it’s completely normal for the stomach to sweat during exercise. This is especially true with an increase in the duration or the intensity of a workout. It’s just your body’s natural reaction to physical exertion.

Perspiration

The reason you sweat during exercise has to do with your body’s temperature. During periods of moderate to vigorous physical activity, your body experiences an increase in temperature. This triggers the eccrine glands to secrete fluid onto the surface of the skin. As this fluid evaporates, it cools the surface of the body. Like many other areas of the body, your stomach has myriad eccrine glands, so the increase in body temperature is just stimulating the perspiration along your midsection.

Temperature

Of course, the ambient temperature can also contribute to the rate of perspiration. If you’re exercising in the heat, you could be experiencing a spike in body temperature and therefore greater amounts of sweat. For a change of pace, consider exercising indoors to decrease sweating around your midsection. If perspiration is still a problem, try lowering the temperature in the room.

Clothing

Another potential way to combat stomach sweat is to take a closer look at your workout apparel. If you’re not wearing natural fibers that breathe, such as cotton, you may be experiencing an increase in perspiration. To cut down on any discomfort the sweat may be giving you, invest in workout apparel made from fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin. Most are labeled as “performance apparel.”

Recommendation

After periods of perspiration, make sure to drink plenty of fluids. When you sweat, you’re losing fluids from the body, and the only way to replenish them is through the consumption of fluids. Your best bet is water, but you can also tip back a sports drink, juice or even milk after a workout.