Night sweats

Night sweats is the occurrence of excessive sweating during sleep. The person may or may not also perspire excessively while awake. One of the most common causes of night sweats in women over 40 is the hormonal changes related to menopause and perimenopause. This is a very common occurrence during the menopausal transition years. While night sweats might be relatively harmless, it can also be a sign of a serious underlying disease.

Associated conditions[edit | edit source]

The condition may be a sign of various disease states, including but not exclusive to the following:

Cancers[edit | edit source]

Infections[edit | edit source]

HIV/AIDS
Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection
Infectious mononucleosis
Fungal infections (Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis)
Lung abscess
Infective endocarditis
Brucellosis
Pneumocystis pneumonia (most often - in immunocompromised individuals)

Endocrine disorders[edit | edit source]

Menopause
Premature ovarian failure
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetes mellitus (nocturnal hypoglycemia)
Endocrine tumors (Pheochromocytoma, Carcinoid)
Orchiectomy

Rheumatic disorders[edit | edit source]

Other[edit | edit source]

Drugs[edit | edit source]

Antipyretics (Salicylates, Acetaminophen)
Antihypertensives
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, in particular Trenbolone, and the Nandrolones
Dinitrophenol - a common side effect
Phenothiazines
Drug withdrawal: Ethanol, Benzodiazepines, Heroin (and other Opiates)
Over-bundling
Autonomic over-activity
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis)

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

It is important to distinguish night sweats due to medical causes from those that occur simply because the sleep environment is too warm, either because the bedroom is unusually hot or because there are too many covers on the bed. Night sweats caused by a medical condition or infection can be described as "severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to the environment".

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for night sweats depends on the underlying cause. If the cause is a medical condition or infection, treating the condition may alleviate the night sweats. In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage symptoms.

External links[edit | edit source]

Night sweats Resources
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