Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve suddenly waking up drenched in sweat, often to the point where your sleep clothes or bedding are soaked.
What causes night sweats?
There are a few potential causes of night sweats to be aware of:
If you develop recurring severe night sweats, it's important to talk to your doctor to help determine the cause. Getting an accurate diagnosis will allow appropriate treatment.
How are night sweats treated?
The treatment for night sweats depends on the underlying cause. Your doctor may order blood tests or imaging scans to pinpoint any medical conditions contributing to excessive sweating at night.
If the night sweats are due to menopause, hormone therapy is often recommended. The experts at Hormone Wellness Institute can provide customized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help resolve night sweats and other bothersome menopause symptoms.
Lifestyle changes may also help, like keeping your bedroom cool at night, using moisture-wicking sleepwear, limiting spices/alcohol before bed, and managing stress. For severe or disruptive night sweats not relieved by other measures, prescription medications are sometimes used.
In summary, night sweats involve drenching nighttime sweating that can dampen bedsheets and disrupt sleep. Hormonal changes, infections, cancer, medications, anxiety, withdrawal, and sleep apnea are among the potential causes. See your doctor to determine the cause of your night sweats and discuss treatment options, which may include hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, or medications in severe cases. The hormone experts at Hormone Wellness Institute can provide personalized care for night sweats related to menopause or andropause.