Night Sweats
As the name implies, night sweats occur when you experience sweating while you sleep.
You might wake up and your pillow, pajamas, pillowcases or sheets are soaked. This can happen even if the temperature in your sleeping area is not very hot.
Doctors often hear many of their patients describe nocturnal sweating that they are suffering from. It is important to tell the difference between sweating that is caused from medical problems as opposed to common sweating from too warm of a sleeping environment.
True night sweats are severe hot flashes that happen while sleeping that cause the patient to soak their sheets and sleepwear with sweat.
What Causes You to Sweat During the Night?
Many different things can cause you to sweat while you sleep. To figure out the true cause, your doctor will want to see you and will seek your detailed medical history.
The doctor may order tests to figure out what medical condition is causing your sweating. Conditions that commonly cause this sweating include:
Infections:
The most common infection that causes sweats at night is tuberculosis. There are, however, other bacterial infections that may be the cause.
Menopause:
Menopausal hot flashes can happen at night and cause the sweats.
Medications:
Sweats can result as a side effect from taking several different types of medications, including:
• Antipyrectics —these are medications used to lower your body’s temperature
• Antidepressants
• Hypoglycemic medications —these are used to reduce your blood sugar (glucose) level
• Hormone therapy—these are medications used to regulate hormone levels in your body
Reducing Your Night Sweats
The cause could be something as simple as too warm a temperature in your bedroom or too many blankets or spreads on the bed.
You must ensure that you keep your bedroom or sleeping area at a temperature that is cool enough and comfortable for you. You should also consider removing extra blankets from your bed when you sleep.
When You Should See a Doctor
You should consult with your doctor if your sweats:
- cause you to wake up frequently while sleeping
- happen to you on a regular basis
- are accompanied by a sudden weight loss, a fever or other symptoms
Now you know what causes nighttime sweating. More importantly, you now have ideas on how to reduce these sweats and also when to see your doctor if they do not go away.
