What causes night sweats (I don mean when its hot)?
Your night sweats could be caused by a number of factors. First, your choice of sleeping attire, even if it’s not wool or flannel, could be causing you to sweat. Synthetic fabrics — for instance, polyester or nylon — can trap heat and keep your skin from cooling. Your bed sheets, if made of these fibers, also could be the source. Go with 100% cotton on all sleepwear and sheets. Another reason for your night sweats may be — you might have guessed — hormones, which can cause sweats as a result of marked changes in progesterone. Before menstruation and during ovulation the level of progesterone rises, making your basal temperature go up, causing sweats in some women. Similar symptoms also can happen before and during menopause. Hormone-related sweats in nonmenopausal women are fairly easy to identify, however, because they are more like hot flashes — that is, they tend to start in the face with a burning feeling and then sweep down the body. If you’re concerned that your sweats may b
