Night sweats affect about 3% of people and can signal underlying health issues. Common causes include hormonal changes, infections, obesity, GERD, sleep apnea, cancer, and medication effects. Managing this condition involves lifestyle modifications and medical treatment when necessary. Adjust your bedding, maintain a cool sleeping environment, and consult healthcare providers to identify underlying causes for effective relief.

Causes and Solutions for Night Sweats

Night sweats, or sleep hyperhidrosis, refer to excessive sweating during sleep that dampens bedding and nightwear, even in comfortable environments. Approximately 3% of individuals experience this condition, which may sometimes indicate underlying health concerns needing attention.

Key causes include

various factors such as:

Hormonal changes: Fluctuations due to menopause, thyroid issues, pregnancy, diabetes, or puberty can trigger night sweating.

Infections: Conditions like tuberculosis, influenza, HIV, and other febrile illnesses often cause night sweats.

Obesity: Excess weight may contribute to episodes of nocturnal sweating.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD): Aside from heartburn, night sweating is a common symptom of GERD.

Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea involves airway blockages that lead to breathing disruptions and sweating during sleep.

Cancer: Early signs of cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia can include night sweats.

Medication side effects: Certain medications like insulin, antidepressants, steroids, and hormone treatments may cause night sweating. Drugs such as Bupropion, Albuterol, Glipizide, Ciprofloxacin, Trazodone, Esomeprazole, Atorvastatin, and Amlodipine are linked to this issue.

To manage night sweats, it's important to identify and address the root cause, whether hormonal imbalance or medication change. If no specific trigger is found, lifestyle adjustments can be effective:

Use lighter bedding and avoid heavy blankets

Keep the sleeping environment cool and well-ventilated

Avoid alcohol and spicy foods before bedtime