Night sweats - Vitality Hormone Clinic

What are night sweats?

Night sweats refer to excessive sweating during sleep. They involve drenching sweats that may soak your nightclothes and bedding.

Causes

Night sweats have several possible causes:

• Menopause. In women, night sweats are commonly linked to menopause and changing hormone levels. Declining estrogen levels can disrupt temperature regulation leading to sweating at night.
• Hormone disorders. Conditions like hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hormone imbalances can trigger excessive sweating. Getting a hormone panel test at Vitality Hormone Clinic can help diagnose the issue.
• Infections. Sweating at night could result from infections like tuberculosis, endocarditis (infection of heart valve tissue) or HIV.
• Medications. Certain prescription medications, like some antidepressants and pain relievers, are linked with night sweats.
• Cancer. Night sweats can be an early symptom of cancers like lymphoma or leukemia. The sweating results from cytokines (immune proteins) produced by cancer cells.
• Idiopathic. In some cases, the cause of excessive night sweats can't be determined, known as idiopathic night sweats.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you have frequent or severe night sweats, it's important to talk to your doctor. They'll review your medical history and medications and may order lab tests to check for infections, hormone imbalances or other possible causes. Evaluation from specialists at Vitality Hormone Clinic can also help determine if your night sweats relate to a treatable hormone disorder.

Once the underlying reason is identified, your doctor can recommend appropriate treatment options. These may include adjusting medications, hormone therapy, medications to reduce sweating, or treatment for an infection or other health condition. Lifestyle changes like stress management, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, using moisture-wicking sleepwear and keeping your bedroom at a cool temperature can also help reduce night sweats.

This answer was provided for general information only. For medical advice about night sweats or excessive sweating issues, please talk to your doctor.