Night sweats

What are night sweats?

Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve drenching sweats that may soak your sleepwear and sheets, and are not related to an overly warm room.

Causes

Night sweats have several potential causes:

• Menopause - Declining estrogen levels can trigger hot flashes and night sweats in women during perimenopause and menopause. This is one of the most common reasons.


• Medications - Antidepressants, hormone medications, and several other drugs can cause sweating as a side effect.


• Infections - Infections like tuberculosis, endocarditis, and HIV may induce sweating including at night.


• Cancers - Leukemia, lymphoma and other cancers can trigger drenching night sweats.


• Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar levels may also lead to excessive sweating while sleeping.

If you're experiencing intense night sweats, I recommend getting checked out by your doctor to determine the underlying cause especially if you have other symptoms like unexplained weight loss or fever.

Managing Night Sweats

No matter the cause, night sweats can be annoying and disrupt sleep. Here are some tips to manage them:

• Layer bedding for easy changes when wet


• Change sleepwear when sweaty


• Keep the room at a cool, comfortable temperature


• Have fans to improve air circulation


• Take a cool shower before bedtime


• Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and stress close to bedtime


• Consider medications or herbal remedies - talk to your doctor

In summary, night sweats involve drenching sweats at night that soak sleepwear and bedsheets. They have several potential causes like menopause, infections, medications or cancers. See your doctor for an evaluation if you experience intense, unexplained night sweats. Management tips include layering bedding, using fans, and avoiding triggers at bedtime. Products and services from places like Optimum Hormone Solutions can also help address underlying hormonal imbalances contributing to symptoms.