Final answer:
Sympathomimetic drugs can increase stress sweating by mimicking the body's sympathetic responses, such as triggering the sweat glands during a stress-related fight-or-flight response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sympathomimetic drugs can increase stress sweating. These drugs mimic the body's sympathetic nerve system by binding to adrenergic receptors or by increasing the production and release of norepinephrine, enhancing the fight-or-flight response. When the sympathetic system is triggered, one of the physiological responses is the stimulation of sweat glands, leading to increased sweating. Drugs like phenylephrine are examples of sympathomimetic drugs that can stimulate target organs such as the heart, lungs, and also sweat glands similarly to how natural sympathetic activity would. Conversely, sympatholytic drugs do the opposite by blocking adrenergic activity and can reduce stress sweating.
Understanding how these drugs function is relevant not only for therapeutic purposes but also in recognizing their side effects, such as excessive sweating. For instance, when anticipating giving a public speech, the sympathetic nervous system can be stimulated which may be further enhanced if a person is taking a sympathomimetic drug, leading to increased stress sweating during the event.