The body has two types of receptors distributed on the sweat glands, the M choline receptor and the alpha adrenergic receptor.
Under physiological conditions, the body is excited by sympathetic nerves in cases of mental stress, excitement, fear, etc., stimulating the centre of the motor area of the cerebral cortex, which causes the secretion of sweat glands on the soles of the feet, forehead, etc. through the excitation of alpha receptors by the innervated sympathetic adrenergic fibres, at which time it is cold sweating, without the stimulation of heat, exercise, etc. and warming factors.
In pathological conditions, certain diseases such as hypoglycaemia, pheochromocytoma and Meniere’s disease, sympathetic excitability is increased, agonising the alpha receptors of the sweat glands and causing cold sweats, pallor, palpitations and other autonomic nervous system symptoms.