What causes night sweats and ways to help manage them

If someone has ever woken up drenched in sweat, they're experienced night sweats. But don't panic: It's estimated that between 10 and 41 percent of adults have experienced night sweats in the primary care setting.

While night sweats can be disruptive, shocking and uncomfortable, they are often manageable. Lifestyle adjustments and over-the-counter (OTC) products may help in many cases.

Here’s what people need to know, including what causes night sweats, when to seek professional guidance and how to support relief.

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What are night sweats?

Simply feeling hot under heavy blankets or sticky on a humid summer night is not the same thing as having night sweats. Instead, think about heavy sweating that leaves pajamas (and maybe even bedding) soaked.

“People generally wake up from the sweating component with some sense of an elevated temperature that broke and caused them to sweat,” says Adrian M. Pristas, MD, a pulmonologist and sleep apnea specialist with Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey.

They may also wake up with a racing heart and feeling cold. The purpose of sweat is to cool down the human body.

Why do people sweat in their sleep?

Night sweats have many causes. They vary from relatively harmless to more serious. "People should always try to pinpoint what's causing their night sweats, because there may be a serious underlying problem," Dr. Pristas says.

There are a few potential causes for night sweats.

Ciertos medicamentos

Taking certain medications, such as certain antidepressants, aspirin, certain hormone therapies, high blood pressure drugs or diabetes medications, can cause night sweats.

Enfermedad

Night sweats can occur when someone has a viral infection, like a cold, COVID-19 or flu, or certain bacterial infections.

Estrés

Anxiety, panic and stress can all trigger night sweats by elevating someone's heart rate and causing their body to become overheated. If someone is dealing with a job loss, having relationship issues or having other life worries that are weighing on their mind, their body may respond with night sweats. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, they may consider consulting a health care provider and seek mental health support.

Underlying medical conditions

Certain medical conditions may make people more prone to night sweats:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancers like leukemia and lymphoma
• Diabetes
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Neurological disorders, including stroke
• Apnea obstructiva del sueño
• Tuberculosis

Substance abuse

Night sweats can also be brought on by drinking alcohol or certain illicit drug use, such as cocaine or heroin.

What causes night sweats in women?

Night sweats can also be triggered by hormonal fluctuations at various stages of life. (For the purposes of this article, "women" refers to biological sex.)

Dr. Pristas explains that it's important not to assume night sweats are simply hormone related. "Diagnosis for women in their fifties can be a dicey situation," he says, "because so many women have night sweats from menopause, but is it menopause or a serious illness?"

Here are several reasons women may experience night sweats:

Menopause night sweats

During perimenopause, up to 14 years before menopausia, the ovaries produce less estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These fluctuating hormone levels can make it difficult for the body to regulate body temperature, resulting in sudden bouts of heat. During the day, these are called hot flashes. In an effort to cool the body down, excessive sweating may occur. Night sweats usually stop for most people a few years after they enter menopause.

Night sweats and pregnancy

A pregnant person may also experience night sweats due to hormonal fluctuations, usually in the first and third trimesters.

Night sweats before a menstrual period

Hormones similarly fluctuate during a person’s menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels decrease before menstruation, which can also trigger night sweats.

Postpartum night sweats

As a birthing parent’s hormones gradually reset after giving birth, they might experience night sweats in the few weeks after the baby is born.

When to be concerned about night sweats

Night sweats may occur in repeated episodes and accompany other symptoms like a cough, diarrhea, fiebre, pain in a specific area or weight loss. If someone is regularly experiencing night sweats or if they are accompanied by these symptoms, contact a health care provider and schedule a visit.

A health care professional can help diagnose the cause of night sweats and recommend appropriate treatments for any underlying health conditions.

Ways to help reduce night sweats

People experiencing night sweats can help improve sleep quality in a few ways, including certain lifestyle changes. It's important to talk to a health care provider about any planned changes. Some recommended strategies include the following:

• Avoiding triggers (such as alcohol, cigarettes and spicy food) before bed.
• Ejercitarse con cierta frecuencia but not before bed.
• Keeping the bedroom comfortable and cool.
• Opening a window or using a fan to enhance air flow in the room.
• Reducing stress in day-to-day life and before going to bed, such as through meditating and deep breathing.
• Wearing loose, breathable clothing to sleep in.

Whether night sweats are brought on by hormonal fluctuations or other causes, there are also some OTC products that may help people get relief support. Cooling pads, wearable cooling sheets and cold packs can all help.

Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.