Common Causes of Night Sweats

Common Causes of Night Sweats

Introduction Sweating is normal and a core part of how the body regulates its temperature. In a sauna or working out in the gym, sweating profusely is expected. Waking up sweating in the middle of the night is another matter altogether. Night sweats can be defined as sweating in excess of that required by the body to regulate body temperature.

There are various causes of night sweats, which doctors call “sleep hyperhidrosis.” The issue is often not serious, but it sometimes shows that a person needs medical attention.

What Are Night Sweats?

Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if you keep your bedroom temperature unusually hot or you are sleeping in too many clothes, you may sweat during your sleep, which is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one’s surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.

In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care doctor, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is common.

Reasons You Get Night Sweats

Menopause

Menopause is when women permanently stop having their period. During this time, significant changes in the body’s production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are believed to be an important driver of hot flashes.

Menopausal hot flashes normally last for a few minutes and can occur multiple times per day, including at night, when they can cause night sweats.

Perhaps not surprisingly, many women — up to 64% — report sleeping problems and higher rates of insomnia during perimenopause and menopause. While night sweats are not the only cause of these sleeping difficulties, they can contribute to poor sleep, especially when they are severe.

Hormonal Disorders

Hormonal disorders can make it difficult for your body to regulate its normal temperature, which can cause night sweats.

When your hormones are out of balance, it sometimes means that the hypothalamus isn’t able to regulate temperature correctly.

Hormonal disorders that can affect body temperature and cause night sweats include: Hyperthyroidism. This condition leads to overproduction of the thyroid hormone, which causes increased sweating, including night sweats.

Pheochromocytoma. This is a tumor on the adrenal gland which makes it produce too many hormones. Symptoms can include night sweats and elevated heart rate.

Carcinoid syndrome. This is a rare disease linked to tumors in the endocrine system. In some cases, it can lead to excess production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. One of the symptoms is excess sweating.

Having Nightmares This is probably the simplest explanation for those sweats. “If the sweating is chronic…sometimes it can be that the patient is totally healthy and is actually running in a dream, or frightful in a dream,” says Harry Banshick, MD. “The sweat is the consequence of acting out the dream.”

Anxiety When worry grows out of control, one of the physical signs is sweating—during the day and at night. It’s normal to feel anxious sometimes, especially in stressful situations. But ongoing worry that affects your everyday life could be a condition called generalized anxiety disorder. Here are some other physical and emotional symptoms: ● ● ● ● ● ●

Difficulty sleeping Tense or achy muscles Nausea, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome Trouble making decisions Restlessness and trouble relaxing Lack of concentration

Medication

Certain medications are known to be associated with night sweats. These include some antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), steroids, and medicines taken to lower fevers, such as aspirin or acetaminophen, that may paradoxically cause sweating.

Caffeine intake can be a cause of generalized sweating. Alcohol and drug use can also increase the risk of night sweats.

You Have A Sweating Disorder While incredibly rare, it’s possible you may suffer from hyperhidrosis — a condition in which your body produces excessive sweat for unknown reasons.

Tips for individuals with hyperhidrosis: ● Invest in best antiperspirant for excessive sweating. Also, keep in mind, deodorants do not reduce sweating. ● Consider your clothing. Opt for loose-fitting clothes that are more breathable, such as those with open knit or loose weave, made with thin materials, moisturewicking or quick-drying properties, or containing mesh panels or air vents. ● Avoid heavy shoes and tight socks. If you sweat from your feet, choose shoes that use little to no synthetic materials and socks that are moisture-wicking.

Sleep Apnea One of the most common signs of this sleep disorder is night sweats. Sleep apnea happens when breathing is disrupted while you sleep. Left untreated, the condition stops your breathing several, sometimes even hundreds of times a night. It affects about 25% of men and tends to happen more in people over 50 who carry extra weight.

Low Testosterone While not a direct cause of night sweats, low testosterone levels are connected to other conditions like sleep apnea, which can set off excessive perspiration while you sleep.

One study found that men with severe sleep apnea had lower testosterone levels and a higher chance of erectile dysfunction than those who snored or had only mild sleep apnea. And, other research shows men with low testosterone get less restful sleep and tend to be overweight, which can make night sweats worse.

Practice StressRelieving Techniques

Use stress-relieving techniques to combat the stress of excessive sweating and any underlying health condition.

Add stress-busting activities like yoga, meditation and journaling to your daily routine and start to find activities that help boost confidence and keep you connected to friends and family.

Antiperspirants

Immediate Relief Clammy hands, sticky legs, and sweating through clothes can make it difficult to enjoy warm weather. There are many easy ways to stop sweating uncomfortably. If you’re sick of feeling sweaty and want to end this problem fast, these short-term treatments will give you immediate results that you can maintain from home.