What are night sweats?
Night sweats refer to severe hot flashes and excessive sweating that occurs during the night. It is considered severe when it causes your sleepwear and bedsheets to become drenched to the point where you need to change them.
Some common causes of night sweats include:
- Menopause - The hormonal changes during menopause and perimenopause can trigger hot flashes at night. Declining estrogen levels are often the culprit.
- Medications - Certain medications like antidepressants and medications for diabetes, hormone therapy, and pain killers are known to cause excessive sweating as a side effect.
- Infections - Infections that cause fever such as URTI, tuberculosis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and HIV/AIDS can induce severe sweating at night.
- Cancers - Lymphomas, leukemias, pheochromocytoma, carcinoid tumors, and other cancers cause drenching night sweats when sleeping.
- Low blood sugar - Having low blood sugar levels at night triggers the release of hormones that cause sweating. This is common in diabetics.
- Hyperthyroidism - Overactive thyroid function leads to excess metabolism and heat generation in the body. This raises the body temperature at night time.
- Idiopathic - In some cases, no specific cause for severe night sweating can be found. This is known as idiopathic hyperhidrosis.
If you suffer from drenching night sweats regularly, it is best to consult a doctor for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. The physicians at Hormone Wellness Center specialize in dealing with night sweats cases in adults. With cutting-edge diagnostic tests and bioidentical hormone therapy, they can help you find the root cause and customize natural treatment solutions. Contact them today to schedule an appointment!
When should you worry about night sweats?
You should consult a doctor when:
- There is no explainable cause like menopause or medication causing the night sweats
- You sweat excessively or unpredictably even in an air-conditioned room
- The sweating is associated with unexplained weight loss and fatigue
- You experience drenching sweats on a regular basis that hamper your sleep
Getting timely diagnosis and treatment will provide symptom relief and help rule out any serious underlying conditions. Make sure to monitor your sweating patterns and record helpful details to discuss with your doctor. With today's medical advancements, you can get to the root of night sweats and improve your sleep quality.