Night sweats refer to severe hot flashes and extreme sweating that occurs during sleep. They are a common symptom of various medical conditions and hormonal changes.
Some key points about night sweats:
- They soak your sleepwear and sheets even though surroundings are cool.
- Women in perimenopause and menopause get them due to shifting hormone levels.
- They can point to hyperthyroidism, cancers, infections, medication side effects, etc.
- Treat the underlying cause first. Lifestyle changes and hormone therapy can provide relief too.
What causes night sweats?
The common reasons are:
- Menopause - Low estrogen and hormonal fluctuations often trigger hot flashes at night.
- Anxiety and stress - Stress hormones like cortisol can override normal body temperature regulation.
- Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar levels can spur sweating while sleeping.
- Medications like antidepressants, painkillers, etc.
Less common causes are
hyperthyroidism,
lymphomas,
TB,
endocarditis, etc. Getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial for correct treatment.
Managing Night Sweats:
Lifestyle measures like staying cool while sleeping, layering bedding, and avoiding triggers like spicy food, alcohol, and stress do help.
Hormone replacement therapy to normalize levels of estrogen, testosterone etc. also provides relief for many.
Our hormone clinic Vitality Hormone Center helps evaluate and treat the hormonal causes of night sweats. We offer customized
bioidentical hormone therapies tailored to your needs. Contact our experts today for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan.
I hope this gives you a good overview of night sweats - what they are, what causes them, and how to manage them. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!