What Are the Most Common Causes Of Night Sweats?
There are many different causes of night sweats. To determine what is causing night sweats in a particular individual, a doctor must obtain a detailed medical history and order tests to decide if an underlying medical condition is responsible for the night sweats. Some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats are:
Menopause — The hot flashes that accompany the menopausal transition can occur at night and cause sweating. This is a very common cause of night sweats in women around the time of menopause.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis — Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the body chronically produces too much sweat without any identifiable medical cause.
Infections — Classically, tuberculosis is the infection most commonly associated with night sweats. However, bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves), osteomyelitis (inflammation within the bones), and abscesses all may result in night sweats. Night sweats are also a symptom of AIDS virus (HIV) infection.
Cancers — Night sweats are an early symptom of some cancers. The most common type of cancer associated with night sweats is lymphoma. However, people who have an undiagnosed cancer frequently have other symptoms as well, such as unexplained weight loss and fevers.
Medications — Taking certain medications can lead to night sweats. In cases without other physical symptoms or signs of tumor or infection, drug side effects are often determined to be the cause of night sweats. Antidepressant medications are a common type of drug that can lead to night sweats. All types of antidepressants can cause night sweats as a side effect, with a range in incidence from 8% to 22% of persons taking antidepressant drugs. Other psychiatric drugs have also been associated with night sweats. Medicines taken to lower fever such as aspirin and acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating.
Many other drugs not mentioned above, including cortisone medications such as prednisone and prednisolone, may also be associated with flushing or night sweats.
Hypoglycemia — Low blood sugar can cause sweating. People who are taking insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications may experience hypoglycemia at night that is accompanied by sweating.
Hormone disorders — Sweating or flushing can be seen with several hormone disorders, including pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism.
Neurologic conditions — Uncommonly, neurologic conditions including autonomic dysreflexia, post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke, and autonomic neuropathy may cause increased sweating and possibly lead to night sweats.
The menopause usually occurs just after the age of 50, when the ovaries stop producing eggs and the hormone oestrogen.
The hot flushes are a result of the drop in oestrogen levels and the effect this has on the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls body temperature).
While night sweats are the most common symptoms, others include insomnia, anxiety, impairment of memory and fatigue.
Long-term consequences can include a decline in libido, osteoporosis, heart disease, even dementia – all linked to the reduced oestrogen levels.
If you’re going through menopause you can understand that it can be hard to deal with. During this period of time you could have made swings, a low sex drive and night sweats so it is important for you to find some relief. Using standard treatments can only give you temporary relief they can have side effects that are not worth the effort. People are finding out that using Menoquil can be a great option for them to control their menopause symptoms. This drug has a lot of natural remedies that can help you control your menopause symptoms.
Some common causes of night sweats include hormone imbalances, infections, neurological disorders, and medications. If people develop heavy sweating at night abruptly with no prior history of this problem or no conditions known to be causes of night sweats, they should seek medical evaluation, as this is sometimes an early symptom of disease. Treatment options vary, depending on the underlying cause, and in some cases no treatment may be available. Some patients have what is known as idiopathic hyperhydrosis, meaning they sweat a lot for no apparent medical reason. These patients can experience heavy sweating at night even in a cool bedroom with appropriately layered bedding. Treatment options can include medications, as well as surgery, in cases where excessive sweating becomes a serious personal hardship or lifestyle obstacle.
