What are night sweats?
Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve drenching sweats that may soak your bedding and nightclothes.
Causes
Night sweats have several possible causes:
- Hormonal changes during menopause and perimenopause often cause hot flashes that result in night sweats. The fluctuating estrogen levels affect the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.
- Infections like tuberculosis, endocarditis, and HIV/AIDS can induce sweating at night.
- Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma may also be associated with severe night sweats.
- Medications like antidepressants and diabetes medications might trigger increased perspiration.
- Hypoglycemia can cause sweating in diabetics at night.
- Hormone disorders such as pheochromocytoma and carcinoid syndrome might be culprits.
- Neurologic conditions including autonomic neuropathy and Parkinson's disease can disrupt temperature regulation.
- Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating without a known cause.
Managing Night Sweats
If you're struggling with disruptive night sweats, see your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Testing may include:
- Blood tests
- Imaging scans
- Biopsies
Once diagnosed, treatment options may include:
- Hormone therapy
- Medications to reduce sweating
- Treating underlying infections
- Lifestyle changes like avoiding spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and stress close to bedtime