{"id":2123,"date":"2018-10-01T04:42:30","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T04:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=2123"},"modified":"2021-05-19T18:39:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:39:33","slug":"10-characteristic-night-sweats-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-characteristic-night-sweats-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Characteristic Night Sweats Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Many women and men experience night sweats. Night sweats are characterized by excessive sweating while you sleep. There are many different diseases and medical conditions that may cause a person to experience night sweats. Some examples include women going through menopause, hormone problems, medications, low blood sugar levels, as well as some neurological problems. Some people experience other symptoms such as shaking, chills, mood changes, vaginal dryness, etc. depending on what is causing the night sweats to occur. Some of the less common causes of night sweats include cancers and infections. Night sweats are treated by your doctor first determining the underlying cause of the problem.<\/p>\n

Night sweats are far more common than one might think. In fact, many doctors have numerous patients that complain about this issue. Night sweats are not simply getting hot during sleep because the heat is too high or you have clothes on that are too warm. Night sweats are a severe hot flash that occurs during the night and causes a person to wake up with drenched clothing and bedding. It is important to discuss night sweats with your doctor so that the underlying cause can be determined. Here are ten possible reasons that you may be experiencing night sweats.<\/p>\n

1. Menopause<\/h3>\n

One of the main reasons that women develop night sweats is due to menopause<\/a>. Night sweats are simply hot flashes that occur during the night. It is quite common for women to experience night sweats when they are going through perimenopause or menopause as their hormone levels are changing at this time. When you are going through menopause you may wake up in the night feeling cold and discovering your sheets soaked from sweat. To help alleviate night sweats during menopause set your temperature lower during the night and use sheets that have a lower thread count.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n

Often night sweats are caused by an issue that can be easily managed. However, there are some serious illnesses and other diseases that may be the cause as well. One disease that can cause night sweats is tuberculosis.<\/p>\n

Tuberculosis<\/a> is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that infects the lungs and can cause severe night sweats. Night sweats are one of the more mild symptoms of tuberculosis and are often brought on by a fever. Other symptoms of tuberculosis include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Abscesses<\/h3>\n

A bacterial infection such as a serious abscess<\/a> are common causes of night sweats. A serious abscess may include boils, appendix, diverticulitis flare ups, or tonsils. As the body is trying to fight off the infection, night sweats may occur. Typically, when a person has an abscess, the night sweats will be accompanied by a fever.<\/p>\n

These infections can be very painful and may swell to be very large. If you have any type of internal or external abscess it is important to have it treated right away.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Medications<\/h3>\n

If you have recently started taking a prescription medication and have started having night sweats<\/a>, it could be a side effect of the medication. There are several types of medications such as those used to treat depression, that may cause a person to develop night sweats.<\/p>\n

Hormone therapy medications as well as drugs used to lower blood sugar levels can cause a person to develop night sweats as well. Cortisone, which is a steroid that is used to relieve pain and inflammation is another medication that may cause night sweats.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Medication for Migraines<\/h3>\n

If you have frequent headaches or migraines<\/a> and use low grade medication such as acetaminophen or aspirin to treat it, you may end up with night sweats. These medications which are often taken to treat a headache or a low grade fever can cause a person to flush or the skin to redden.<\/p>\n

It is important to make sure that you are following the dosage instructions on the label of the medication and never increase the dosage above what is recommended. Changing the type of medication that you take could decrease or prevent the severity of your night sweats.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Cancer<\/h3>\n

Night sweats can be an early warning sign of several types of cancer<\/a>. The most common type of cancer that causes a person to experience night sweats is lymphoma. Night sweats are often accompanied with a fever as well as severe or drastic weight loss.<\/p>\n

Abnormal sweating may occur during the day time hours as well, depending on what is causing it and what the situation is. While night sweats may be a warning sign for cancer, they may also be caused by some cancer treatments. Hormone therapy and chemotherapy can often cause hot flashes and night sweats.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. HIV\/AIDS<\/h3>\n

People who have been infected with HIV\/AIDS may experience severe nocturnal sweating that ends up soaking the sheets and blankets entirely. Night sweats do not always mean that a person has an infection, but a person who has HIV<\/a> is at a higher risk of getting an infection and these infections can be quite serious.<\/p>\n

While general night sweats can be uncomfortable, if the sweating is accompanied with a fever, it is likely that there is an infection present as well. If you have HIV\/AIDS and are experiencing night sweats, it is important to see your doctor to rule out other infections.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Neurologic Issues<\/h3>\n

Sweating is actually a natural function of the body that helps your body manage its temperature and to cool it down when it is too hot. In addition, sweating<\/a> can also occur if you are nervous or anxious.<\/p>\n

However, night sweating may be caused by a neurological condition such as autonomic neuropathy, stroke, or parkinson\u2019s disease. Since sweating is related to nerve function, damaged nerves caused by these conditions can result in faulty signals being sent to the sweat glands, which may cause profuse night sweating.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Chronic Hyperhidrosis<\/h3>\n

Chronic hyperhidrosis<\/a> is simply excessive sweating and is a medical condition that is characterized by the body producing an excessive amount of sweat. This is considered to be a chronic condition, but there is no medical cause linked to hyperhidrosis except family history and genetics.<\/p>\n

A person who has this condition will sweat often and easily. A regular individual who does not have this condition may think that the weather is cool, where as someone with chronic hyperhidrosis may find the temperature too warm or may sweat no matter what the temperature is.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Hypoglycemia<\/h3>\n

Hypoglycemia<\/a> is a condition that causes a person to have low blood glucose levels. A person who has hypoglycemia may have night sweats both before they are diagnosed as well as after. The lower blood sugar levels that occur overnight may cause a person to sweat profusely and may also cause a person to have nightmares or develop headaches.<\/p>\n

In addition to the low blood sugar levels causing night sweats, many of the medications that are used to treat hypoglycemia may cause night sweats as well.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Anxiety<\/h3>\n

Roughly 18-percent of American adults experience the effects of anxiety<\/a> daily \u2013 that\u2019s over 40-million people! Anxiety is a terrible condition to live with. The disorder affects our mental state, producing an array of physical symptoms in its wake, with one of the most common being night sweats. <\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety is very different from stress, so it’s surprising that so many people confuse the two. Stress occurs as a natural response to the stimulus in our environment. For example, your kid tells you that they need you to be at their school to watch their play at 5 pm, and you\u2019re already late because you\u2019re stuck in traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, anxiety is a mental health disorder that affects the nervous system. Anxiety produces feelings of dread \u2013 for example; you continually obsess over the fact that you may have a heart attack, due to your lifestyle choices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety can spiral out of control, leaving the affected individual with other symptoms, such as sleep disorders. Lying in bed obsessing about your problems can lead to the development of night sweats as your neurological system can\u2019t shut down and induce sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"12. Autoimmune Disorders<\/h3>\n

An autoimmune disorder<\/a> occurs when your immune system becomes confused about its role in the body. Under normal circumstances, the immune system identifies invading pathogens and bacteria, signaling the production of white blood cells to ward off the infection before it has the chance to spread.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, people who experience immune system dysfunction, produce antibodies that fight healthy cells in the body, confusing them for intruders. One such example of an autoimmune disorder that creates night sweats is adrenal fatigue. With this disorder, the body continuously produces the hormone cortisol due to high levels of stress. <\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, cortisol production occurs due to the \u201cflight-or-fight\u201d response. However, people with adrenal fatigue never slow their production of cortisol and other adrenaline-like hormones, leaving them with insomnia, and heightened senses.<\/span><\/p>\n

People with adrenal fatigue struggle to fall asleep and often report night sweats. This situation occurs due to the hormonal changes in the body, and the never-ending release of cortisol.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"13. HIV \/ AIDS<\/h3>\n

People who are suffering from HIV or AIDS experience night sweats regularly. Shifts in the body\u2019s hormone production and immune function occur due to the body trying to fight the virus. Unfortunately, their T-cell count continues to decline, and they often begin to experience an elevation in their symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

The drugs used in the treatment of HIV also create night sweats due to their potent effect on the immune system. These drugs try to buttress the production of T-cells by boosting the immune system<\/a>, but with little effect. Certain antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV will also increase night sweats, and doctors may stack additional drugs to counteract this effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for HIV or AIDS, but doctors can slow the transition of HIV to AIDS by using antiretroviral medications. IF you\u2019re a patient living with HIV or AIDS, and you continuously experience night sweats, speak to your doctor for a drug therapy to counterbalance night sweats.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"14. Drug Addiction Withdrawal<\/h3>\n

Individuals who become addicted to illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine<\/a> experience night sweats when they withdraw from their drug of choice. Individuals who enter a rehabilitation program find that they wake up soaked in their sweat for the first few days after ceasing drug use. These sweats occur due to the body\u2019s withdrawal response.<\/span><\/p>\n

Illegal drugs like cocaine act on the hypothalamus, causing it to signal for the release of dopamine, the \u201cfeel-good\u201d neurotransmitter. When a user withdraws from the substance, they experience a massive detoxifying shock on their body which leaves them with a light fever, resulting in night sweats.<\/span><\/p>\n

This withdrawal can also occur when a patient stops prescription-strength painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs, such as opioids, and benzodiazepines. If you, or anyone you know, is dealing with a drug problem, reach out to your loved ones for help. Addicts require support to make it through the detoxification process and re-entry into society.<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n

<\/div>