Sweating is a normal healthy process to help us regulate our body temperature. However, sometimes this system can go into overdrive, causing an excess or hyperhidrosis. People feel incredibly embarrassed about this, which can create great anxiety and a lack of confidence in social settings. It can be localized, such as just under the armpits, the back, or on the face, or it can affect the entire body. Some medical conditions can cause this, but no particular cause is often found.

A faint means a momentary loss of consciousness and is often referred to as a blackout. Doctors sometimes call it syncope or a vasovagal attack and it’s very common, affecting up to 40% of people at least once in their lives. It usually first happens before the age of 40 (usually in the teens) and typically doesn’t have a serious cause although if it occurs for the first time after middle-age it can be a sign of an underlying health problem.

Folate is a water-soluble vitamin that makes and repairs DNA and red blood cells. Folate is not stored in fat cells, so levels can easily deplete if not maintained. Reduction of folate can occur predominantly with dietary deficiencies. It can also happen due to disease or as a side effect of medication. Folate is important for women of childbearing age as deficiencies can lead to birth defects. Therefore, supplements are always recommended for pregnant women. Folate deficiency can lead to anemia, reducing the amount of oxygen available for your tissues and cells. 

High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia. This is when the blood sugar level goes above the normal range. It mainly affects people with diabetes, or is used to diagnose diabetes. Normal blood sugar (glucose) levels are between 70-99 mg/dL before eating a meal, and less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating. It will go up after eating, and you produce insulin to reduce it so glucose can be stored and later released gradually for a constant source of energy. People with diabetes do not produce enough insulin to effectively manage this process. Therefore, they require medication and diet restrictions to avoid high blood glucose levels. If glucose reaches very high levels, such as above 200 mg/dL, or stays high for a sustained period, this can cause health problems, and if extremely high, over 300 mg/dL, this can lead to an emergency that requires urgent hospital attention.

Iron is important for many functions in the body, with a very important one being to help produce healthy red blood cells so that they can transport oxygen around your body. Iron levels can be tested by having a blood test that measures the blood's iron stores (ferritin). Iron deficiency means lower than the recommended normal range of iron stores in your body. We get our iron from foods rich in iron, such as red meat, green leafy vegetables, nuts, dried fruits or cereals, and flour fortified with iron. The most common cause of low iron is bleeding, but can also be caused by low iron intake in your diet or poor absorption of iron into the body through the intestine (more common with conditions such as celiac disease). Women of childbearing age can be particularly prone to low iron, especially if they have heavy periods or during pregnancy. If you have very low or low iron levels for a prolonged time, you may develop a condition called iron-deficiency anemia. This is where the low iron levels affect the production of red blood cells so that less oxygen can be transported around your body. Some symptoms of iron deficiency can be tiredness, loss of motivation, poor concentration, pale complexion, palpitations, and hair and nails becoming more brittle.

Low blood sugar is known medically as hypoglycemia and commonly referred to as “a hypo.” This is when the glucose level in your blood drops below the normal range. It can be a condition in people with diabetes, especially if you take insulin, but it can be related to medication and other medical conditions. Healthy blood glucose is less than 100 mg/dL before a meal. You have hypoglycemia if your blood glucose goes below 70 mg/dL. The lower it goes and the longer it goes, the higher risk. If you are diagnosed as diabetic and either taking insulin or at risk of hypo's, your doctor will provide you with a blood glucose monitor machine or sensor patch, or you can buy one, to keep an eye on your levels.

Sweaty palms are also known as palmar hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating beyond what is necessary for thermoregulation, can significantly impact the quality of life physically, emotionally and psychologically. Sweating is one of the key ways our body regulates its temperature and effectively cools down. Overactive sweat glands cause individuals to sweat more than needed - this can lead to the experience of sweaty palms. Sweaty palms do not usually indicate a serious problem, but on occasion, they can be caused by an underlying condition.