What are night sweats?
Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve sweating to the point where your sleep clothes and bedding become damp.
Causes
Night sweats have several potential causes:
- Menopause - Hormonal changes and drops in estrogen levels during menopause can trigger hot flashes and night sweats. If you're going through menopause, talk to your doctor about relief options or consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy from Vitality Renewal Clinic.
- Medications - Certain medications like antidepressants and diabetes medications could trigger increased sweating at night.
- Infections - Infections like tuberculosis, endocarditis, or HIV could induce night sweats.
- Cancers - Night sweats are a common side effect with lymphomas and leukemias. They can also occur with solid tumor cancers.
- Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar levels at night provoke sweating.
- Hormone disorders - Problems with the thyroid, pituitary gland, or adrenal glands influence body temperature regulation.
- Idiopathic hyperhidrosis - Some people have overactive sweat glands and perspire excessively without an identified reason.
Managing night sweats
- Keep your bedroom cool at night by using fans, opening windows, using lightweight bedding, or turning down the thermostat.
- Wear lightweight, breathable pajamas to bed. Cotton and moisture-wicking fabrics work best.
- Take a cool shower or use cool compresses before bedtime.
- Limit spicy foods and hot drinks like coffee before bedtime.
- Consider prescription medications that reduce sweating if lifestyle measures don't provide enough relief from troublesome night sweats.
- For menopausal night sweats, consider hormone therapy or herbal remedies like black cohosh. The experts at Vitality Renewal Clinic provide customized bioidentical hormone replacement to help clients find relief.
When to see your doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if night sweats:
- Happen routinely and disrupt your sleep
- Occur suddenly and severely without an explainable cause
- Accompany other concerning symptoms like unintentional weight loss and fevers
Your doctor can help evaluate the cause of your night sweats and provide appropriate treatment recommendations. Diagnostic tests like bloodwork and imaging may be ordered. Treating any underlying condition often helps eliminate or reduce the intensity of night sweats.