Night Sweats

Night sweats; It is considered normal if it occurs due to factors such as the temperature of the room, the thickness of the clothes that the person wears while sleeping, or the blanket or quilt that they cover.
Night sweats may develop due to heat as well as infection, hormonal problems, reflux, sleep apnea, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, menopause, stress disorder or alcohol use.

What Causes Night Sweats?

Infection: Tuberculosis is an infection usually associated with night sweats.

Hormone (endocrine) imbalances: It can occur in menopause, diabetes, thyroid disease, puberty, and pregnancy.

Obstructive sleep apnea: The walls of the throat narrow and restrict breathing. It causes sweating.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): The primary symptom is heartburn, but it is a common feature of night sweats.

Cancer: Night sweats can be an early sign of some cancers, especially lymphoma. However, night sweats in cancer are not usually the only symptom.

Neurological conditions: Rarely, neurological conditions can cause increased sweating and night sweats. These;

• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Post-traumatic syringomyelia
• Stroke
• Autonomic neuropathy

Other reasons:

• Anxiety disorders
• Hyperhidrosis
• Obesity
• Alcohol and substance abuse
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
• Parkinson's disease

Sweating Treatment

Treatment for sweating varies depending on the cause and severity. Investigations should be done for diseases that may cause sweating and if there is an underlying disease, it should be determined. In the treatment of sweating, different methods can be used in addition to medical and surgical treatment.

• Medication
  • Antiperspirants: These are drugs that reduce sweating.
  • Sympathetic blockers: Such drugs can reduce sweating by reducing the effects of nerves.
  • Botox injections: It blocks the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. Its effects last for several months.
• Surgical methods
  • Removal of the sweat gland: Very small cats and sweat glands can be removed through liposuction if excessive sweating occurs only in the armpits.
  • Nerve surgery: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy method is an effective intervention in facial and hand sweating. The nerve roots that cause sweating are surgically removed. All sweating in these areas stops. This is a permanent method. The disadvantage of this method is that while sweating decreases in one area, it increases in the other.

In addition to these treatment methods, iontophoresis can be used in the treatment of sweating. It is a successful treatment for preventing sweating. However, it is effective as long as iontophoresis is performed. Sweating may resume when this treatment is discontinued.

Night Sweats Other Information

If you start sweating in your sleep, here are some suggestions:

• Don't be thirsty all day long.
• Wear thin clothes in bed.
• Use thinner fabrics or a thinner duvet.
• Keep the bedroom cool and ventilated.
• Avoid potential triggers such as spicy foods, caffeine, smoking and alcohol.

Sweat glands are less active at night, so applying an antiperspirant to clean the skin before bed will keep the antiperspirant working while you sleep and the next day.

If there are symptoms such as excessive sweating and sweating that does not stop, chest pain with sweating during sleep, fever, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, and weight loss, a specialist should be consulted as soon as possible.

We tried to give you some information about night sweats. If your night sweats continue, please consult a doctor and have the necessary tests done.
We wish you all a prosperous and cool world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Blog

Bronchitis

Bruxism

Psoriasis