What causes night sweats?


Have you ever woken up drenched in sweat? Even though you were not sick (that you knew of) and your bedroom was not at a high temperature? These occurrences are called “night sweats” and if you’ve experienced them, you know how uncomfortable they can be.

What are night sweats?

Night sweats are when you experience sweating at night that’s enough to disrupt your sleep or wet your clothes. Night sweats come on quickly. First you’ll feel hot, then you’ll start to sweat intensely. You may also notice your skin getting red and a rapid heartbeat. Oftentimes people wake up drenched with cold sweat and may feel confused about why this has happened.1

What causes night sweats?

Night sweats are common and when an isolated symptom occurs, it’s typically nothing to worry about. However, if they occur alongside other concerning symptoms, such as a fever, recent weight loss, coughing or gastrointestinal issues, night sweats can be a symptom of a medical condition or a side-effect of certain medications.1 In women, night sweats can be a common occurrence during menopause and the perimenopausal period.2

Common conditions and illnesses that can cause night sweats include:3

  • Infectious diseases, including bacterial or viral infections
  • Hormonal disorders or changes
  • Neurologic disorders
  • Cancer 
  • Behavioral health conditions
  • Sleep disorders
  • Digestive diseases
  • Menopause

Medication-related causes for night sweats include:

  • Side effects of other medications
  • Medications for depression
  • Opioid use disorder drugs
  • Medications that treat low blood sugar in diabetes
  • Hormone therapy

Night sweats in women

Night sweats can affect anyone, but they are common among women. Hormone changes related to reproductive hormones — like estrogen and progesterone — can change your body temperature and make you feel too hot, including during menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Your body may respond with hot flashes and cold sweats. Hot flashes that occur at night are night sweats. Possible causes of night sweats in women:1

  • Menopause
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
  • Pregnancy, especially during the first and third trimesters

How are night sweats treated?

Figuring out how to stop night sweats depends on what’s causing them in the first place. Pay attention to your routine and keep track of the nights they happen to see if there is a pattern or common thread, and other symptoms. This could include eating spicy foods, drinking alcohol, room temperature, a cold or sickness, or other factors. For woman, it could be menopause or changes in your menstrual cycle. Once you figure out what’s making you so hot at night, you may be able eliminate the source. Sometimes a simple lifestyle change can cool things off.

Home remedies for night sweats

If you’re wondering how to help reduce night sweats, here are some steps that may help you keep cooler at night:

  • Drinking cold water frequently
  • Cooling pillows and blankets
  • Lightweight pajamas
  • Daily exercise
  • Lightweight bedding
  • Pre-bedtime relaxation rituals, such as meditation
  • Fan
  • Open windows
  • Increasing use of air conditioning
  • Cold packs
  • Avoiding triggers like alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine and cigarettes or even exercising too close to bedtime

How to treat night sweats caused by hormone changes during menopause

In addition to lifestyle management, night sweats during menopause may be treated with hormone therapy — estrogen alone or with progestin. Hormone therapy can also help with other symptoms of menopause, including bone loss and vaginal dryness. You shouldn’t receive estrogen replacement therapy if you have a history of breast cancer. All hormone therapies carry some risks, including blood clots and gallbladder inflammation.1

Non-estrogen medications can be used to treat night sweats as well. Ask your doctor about your options.

When should I be worried about night sweats?

Not all night sweats are cause for concern. For example, if you turn the heat up too high or sleep under one too many blankets, you may wake up sweating. Although uncomfortable, these occasional experiences aren't usually considered night sweats, and typically aren't a sign of an underlying condition or illness.3

Connect with your doctor if night sweats are disrupting your sleep more than 2 to 3 times per week, if the home remedies don’t work, or if you have accompanying symptoms like fever, weight loss, pain in a specific area, cough or diarrhea. Experiencing night sweats in addition to other concerning symptoms may be a sign of something more serious, but only your provider can make a diagnosis. Once they determine the cause, they can help guide your treatment.1

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