Don’t sweat it: The truth behind perspiration
By William Bonaventura, Applied Physics, 2021
A small bead of sweat slowly slithers down your forehead. The clothes you have just changed into are already soaked. You stare up at the sun, loathing the great glowing orb, as you realize how disgusting you already smell. On the surface, perspiration is a grotesque act that soaks clothing and exudes an odor repulsive to the world. Yet surprisingly, sweat is not actually to blame for how awfully we reek. In fact, not only is this excreted salty liquid actually innocent of such a wretched scent, it also provides us with a number of health benefits. Sweating serves as the body’s natural cooling system, preventing it from rising to dangerous temperatures and suffering symptoms such as heat stroke.
However, not only is this excreted salty liquid actually innocent of a such a wretched scent, it also provides us with a number of health benefits.
Let us take a microscopic look at the actual culprit of the putrid odor. Sweat, in reality, is primarily water containing meager amounts of dissolved minerals, primarily sodium and potassium (i.e. table salt). It is effectively a colorless, odorless liquid. What is the origin behind reeking so badly, you might ask? According to MedicalNewsToday, an online outlet for medical media, the unsatisfactory scent is actually due to the presence of various strains of bacteria residing in said sweat. The degradation of salt into acids is the process that in turn releases the order. Hence, the interaction between the unicellular organisms and our sweat is the main source of the stench.
Not only is bacteria, rather than sweat itself, the primary body odor culprit, the act of sweating is an essential step in our regulatory system process for maintaining a homeostatic balance. In response to a rising, potentially dangerous body temperature, the body triggers sweat gland activity, releasing the salty discharge onto our skin. In the evaporation process that follows, liquid water in the sweat transitions into water vapor, effectively carrying a bit of body heat away with it. As all of the moisture hot enough to evaporate leaves our body, only the cooler liquid water remains, effectively chilling our quickly warming body. In addition to keeping us cool, sweating has also been credited with boosting energy, improving mood, and detoxifying our bodies of various heavy metals.
Hence, the interaction between the unicellular organisms and our sweat is the main source of the stench.
While our first instinct may be to curse the vile effects of sweat, we instead actually owe the process a great deal of gratitude. Without it, surviving a marathon in the blistering heat would instead involve excessive panting. Be thankful for our sweat glands!
