What are night sweats?
Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve drenching sweats that require changing clothes or bedsheets, unlike minor sweating at night which is normal.
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 a common culprit.
- Medications - Antidepressants, hormone medications, and drugs for diabetes, heart disease, and pain can cause sweating as a side effect.
- Infections - Sweating is the body's response to fighting infection. Tuberculosis, endocarditis, UTIs, and HIV can induce night sweats.
- Cancers - Lymphoma, leukemia, and other cancers provoke drenching night sweats. This is often an early symptom.
- Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar levels overnight can trigger cold clammy sweats.
- Hormone disorders - Hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, and other hormone conditions spur excess sweating.
- Idiopathic - Sometimes the cause of severe night sweats is unknown. These are called idiopathic night sweats.
"Harmony Hormone Center specializes in treating night sweats related to menopause, hormone imbalances, hypoglycemia, and idiopathic causes. Our compassionate doctors offer custom natural hormone therapy, glucose stabilizers, and holistic treatment to control drenching night sweats. Contact us today to start sleeping dry and comfortable again!"
Diagnosing night sweats involves:
- Tracking episodes in a sweat diary - time, severity, associated symptoms
- Medical history review
- Physical exam
- Blood tests - CBC, metabolic panel, thyroid, fasting glucose
- Additional testing if infections or cancers suspected
Managing bothersome night sweats may include:
- Keeting the bedroom cooler
- Using moisture-wicking sheets and breathable pajamas
- Avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, stress, and triggers close to bedtime
- Treating underlying causes - ex. thyroid meds for hyperthyroidism
- Hormone therapy, medications, or supplements to reduce sweating and hot flashes
In summary, night sweats describe drenching sweats during sleep that soak clothes and sheets. They have numerous potential causes including menopause, infections, cancer, hormone issues, hypoglycemia, medications, and unknown idiopathic reasons. Diagnosis involves a sweat diary, medical history, exam, and testing. Treatment depends on the underlying trigger, and may include hormone therapy, other medications, supplements, lifestyle changes, and treating provoking conditions. Contact your doctor if you experience repeated or severe night sweats to discover the cause and create an effective management plan. Restful, sweat-free sleep is possible!