Causes of Night Sweats
Causes of night sweats in men, sweating around neck and chest at night, causes of night sweats in women, night sweats no fever? In this article, you will learn the 13 causes of night sweats.
Night sweats refer to excess sweating during the night. But if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are wearing too many bedclothes, you may sweat during sleep, and this is normal.
True night sweats are severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench your clothes and sheets and that are not related to an overheated environment.
It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or body) may be hard to distinguish from true night sweats.
There are many different causes of night sweats. To find the cause, a doctor must get a detailed medical history and order tests to decide what medical condition is responsible for the night sweats.
Some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats are:
1. Menopause
Night sweats in women might be associated with their periods. If they are menopausal, some changes in hormone levels would trigger hot flashes.
The hot flashes that accompany menopause can occur at night and cause sweating. It eventually results in many other health issues, such as slower metabolism, thinning hair, vaginal dryness, mood changes, irregular periods, chill, and night sweats.
In most cases, people often have menopause when they turn 50, even when it would occur earlier. Keep in mind that this is a totally normal condition which doesn’t need any treatment. But if these signs interfere with your life, seek medical advice to manage them.
This is a very common cause of night sweats in women.
2. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the body chronically produces too much sweat without any identifiable medical cause.
3. Infections
Tuberculosis is the infection most commonly associated with night sweats. But bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves), osteomyelitis (inflammation in the bones), and abscesses can cause night sweats. Night sweats are also a symptom of HIV infection.
4. Low Testosterone
If the levels of testosterone in your body are low, you would also have night sweats. When you are aging, the body will naturally produce less testosterone.
However, some other factors, such as substance abuse, medical conditions, drugs, or injuries, would also lead to this drop.
In addition to night sweats, some other signs of low testosterone include erectile dysfunction, reduced bone mass, lower sexual desire, tiredness, muscle weakness, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating. Some treatment options are available to help increase the levels of testosterone and prevent these symptoms.
5. Cancer
Night sweats are an early symptom of some cancers. The most common type of cancer associated with night sweats is lymphoma.
However, people who have undiagnosed cancer frequently have other symptoms as well, such as unexplained weight loss and fevers. These signs might vary and would happen later or early, depending on the severity and form of cancer.
Night sweats are often noticed in lymphoma and leukemia. If you experience this condition, followed by flu-like symptoms, tiredness, and some other issues, make sure to have a health check to rule out cancer.
6. Anxiety
Increased sweating usually occurs when you are under a lot of pressure or similar mental issues like anxiety or depression. When you are worried about something, the body would sweat more, especially in the daytime.
If these conditions cause insomnia or difficulty sleeping, night sweats can happen. Stress is a very common part of daily life.
Therefore, the exact symptoms can vary from people to people. These include pain, constant fear, trouble concentrating, quick breathing, increased irritability, dizziness, or weakness.
If left untreated, mental problems would affect your daily lives. Thus, make sure to find out the underlying cause and get the best treatment options.
7. Medications
Taking certain medications can lead to night sweats. Antidepressant medications are a common type of drug that can lead to night sweats. From 8% to 22% of people taking antidepressant drugs have night sweats.
Other psychiatric drugs have also been associated with night sweats. Medicines taken to lower fever, such as aspirin and acetaminophen, can sometimes lead to sweating. Many other drugs can cause night sweats or flushing.
8. Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar can cause sweating. People who are taking insulin or oral diabetes medications may have hypoglycemia at night that is accompanied by sweating.
9. Acid Reflux
Many studies have shown an association between acid reflux and GERD and night sweats. This digestive issue happens when the muscles which often keep the esophagus closed don’t work as usual. As a result, the acid in the stomach would reach the esophagus and trigger heartburn.
You would also feel chest pain, difficulty swallowing, insomnia, cough, and night sweats. The condition would occur at night or during the day. There are many causes of acid reflux, from medications and medical conditions to eating habits.
Fortunately, you can make some lifestyle changes and take heartburn-relieving drugs several times per week to manage these symptoms.
10. Hormone disorders
Sweating or flushing can be seen with several hormone disorders, including pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism.
11. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that makes you stop breathing when you are asleep. If you suffer from this condition, the throat muscles would relax and prevent the airways from carrying air back and forth your lungs.
In addition to night sweats, it can also trigger excessive tiredness, choking, gasping, or loud snoring. These symptoms would happen many times during the night. Sleep apnea is likely to occur in men than in women.
It is better to consult your healthcare provider for proper treatments as it would be serious. Some possible treatments include CPAP machines, nasal decongestants, or even surgery.
12. Neurologic conditions
Uncommonly, neurologic conditions including autonomic dysreflexia, posttraumatic syringomyelia, stroke, and autonomic neuropathy may cause increased sweating and may lead to night sweats.
13. Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, produces too much thyroxine. This hormone is responsible for the use of energy in the body.
Thus, an excessive amount would increase metabolism, which eventually leads to anxiety, racing heartbeats, increased appetite, and night sweats.
A blood test can help your doctor diagnose hyperthyroidism. Based on the result, he or she will suggest the use of beta-blockers or similar drugs to help you manage the symptoms.
FAQ
Causes of night sweats in women
The most prevalent cause of night sweats in women is hormone imbalances during menopause and perimenopause. The transitional time preceding menopause is known as perimenopause, which means “around menopause.” Between the ages of 40 and 50, this era occurs.
Causes of night sweats in men
Low testosterone levels, commonly known as male hypogonadism, can cause night sweats in men. Low testosterone levels affect around 38% of men aged 45 and up5 for a number of reasons, and even otherwise healthy men aged 60 and up have a 20% chance of having low testosterone levels.
Sweating around neck and chest at night
Head and neck sweats can occur when sleeping due to fevers and other medical disorders. Menopause in women, low testosterone in males, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and certain medications can all cause us to wake up with a wet pillow.
Night sweats no fever
Women and men both experience night sweats, or excessive sweating while sleeping. Night sweats can be caused by a variety of medical problems and disorders. Women in perimenopause or menopause, drugs, hormone issues (Low-T), low blood sugar, and neurological issues are all examples.
How to stop night sweats
Throughout the night, sipping cold water Putting a cold pack under a pillow and then rotating it over to put your head on a cool surface. Alcohol, spicy meals, caffeine, and cigarettes are all known night sweat causes. Deep breathing, relaxation, and exercise are all methods for de-stressing.
How long do night sweats last
Hot flashes and nocturnal sweats associated with menopause can linger for years. What is the duration of hot flashes? Menopause-related hot flashes were once thought to disappear after six to 24 months. Hot flashes and night sweats, on the other hand, can endure a long time for many women—up to 11 years, according to some estimates.
Sweating at night while sleeping
Excessive sweating during sleep is a typical symptom in both men and women. Night sweats are caused by a variety of medical problems and disorders. Medications, hormone disorders (Low-T), low blood sugar, and neurological difficulties are all examples.
When to be concerned about night sweats
Night sweats are especially troubling when they last two weeks or more and are accompanied by other symptoms. Be on the lookout for signs including unexpected weight loss, fevers or chills, bodily pains and joint stiffness, or enlarging lymph nodes.