How to tell when your night sweats are a warning sign

If you’re consistently waking up in the middle of the night drenched in your own sweat, you’re likely suffering from sleep hyperhidrosis. Sleep hyperhidrosis is a medical term for “night sweats.” It’s a condition that entails repeated episodes of extreme sweating that often soaks through clothes and sheets.

Getting overheated from sleeping under thick blankets or turning your heater too high wouldn’t be considered sleep hyperhidrosis. In those cases, perspiration is likely connected to your bedroom environment. And not with an actual medical condition.

Causes of night sweats

Again, true night sweats involve severe hot flashes that are not environment related. The causes of night sweats may include:

• Menopause
• Infections (tuberculosis is the most common infection associated with night sweats)
• Idiopathic hyperhidrosis (a condition in which the body chronically perspires excessively without any exact medical cause)
• Medications (i.e., antidepressants, psychiatric drugs, aspirin, acetaminophen, and many other drugs)
• Hormone disorders (i.e., pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism)
• Hypoglycemia (aka low blood sugar)
• Neurological conditions (i.e., autonomic dysreflexia, posttraumatic syringomyelia, stroke, and autonomic neuropathy)
• Cancers (lymphoma is the most common cancer associated with night sweats)

When to be concerned with night sweats

Night sweats aren’t always a cause for concern. Methods like keeping the bedroom cool and ventilated, avoiding sweat triggers (i.e., spicy foods, cigarettes and alcohol), using breathable sheets and light quilts, and/or trying a cool shower before bedtime can help.

But if you think your night sweats may be from a serious infection, cancer or a neurologic condition, be sure to mention them to your health care provider. And, if your night sweats include unexplained weight loss, high fever and chills, body aches and pains, diarrhea or stomach pain, and/or chronic or bloody cough, seek medical attention immediately.

Whether your night sweats are just bothersome or linked with a more serious health issue, your provider can help with an effective treatment plan.