Night sweats is the term for heavy sweating during sleep. While it’s normal to get overheated from time to time – maybe you put too many blankets on the bed – night sweats often result in excessive perspiration, to the point of soaking your clothing or bedding. Women often experience this unpleasant symptom during menopause, but it can also be tied to other health concerns. Let’s take a closer look at potential causes and what’s involved in pursuing a diagnosis.
Causes
Night sweats can be caused by many things, including:
- Overactive production of thyroid hormone
- Anxiety
- Alcohol consumption
- Sleep apnea
- Hormone changes related to menopause
- Infections (tuberculosis, infection of the heart's valve or HIV)
- Some cancers (leukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma)
Diagnosis
It's important to see your doctor if you are experiencing night sweats often, so that they can rule out any significant health concerns. Your provider will ask questions about your symptoms and health history. These questions might include:
- How often you have night sweats.
- How long they last.
- If you are taking a new medicine.
- If you have other symptoms, such as fever, pain or unplanned weight loss.
Your doctor might also perform a complete physical exam, order bloodwork and/or additional screening measures, such as imaging.
Tracking symptoms
Having night sweats a few times is usually nothing to worry about, but it’s important to talk to your doctor if the frequency increases. It’s also a good idea to track occurrences and any other symptoms you might experience with the event, such as fever, chills, pain or unplanned weight loss. To do this, keep a notebook next to your bed and record these episodes so that you can share the results with your doctor and identify potential trends.
If you found this helpful, you might also find helpful information in “Finding relief from hot flashes.”
If you need to seek treatment for night sweats, contact your provider. If you need to establish care with a doctor, go to parkview.com/findcare or call our Access Center at 877-PPG-TODAY 24/7 to find a provider, learn about our virtual care options and find a Walk-in Clinic near you.
Copyrighted material adapted with permission from Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
