What is the Cause of Night Sweats? [Complete Guide]

Everyone sweats, and sweating is an essential physiological process of the body. Also known as perspiration, sweating is the body’s natural way of regulating its temperature. Sweat contains water that brings about a cooling effect when released over the skin. You expect to sweat on a hot day when working out or doing some hard work. However, it’s alarming when you regularly start sweating at night. Excessive sweating while sleeping or night sweats is not normal.

So how can you tell that you sweat excessively at night?

The first telltale sign is waking up to soaking wet nightwear and bedsheets. Sometimes the situation is so bad that you have to use a mackintosh sheet to protect your mattress. But don’t confuse it with the sweaty nights you experience during summer. Problematic night sweating is not only excessive, but it is also repeated.

With that in mind, the next question you’d ask is, “am I sick if I sweat in my sleep?” Many people have experienced excessive night sweating at some point in their lives. Research indicates that about 41% of average-aged men and women experience excessive sweating during the night. However, the good news is that it is now possible to rectify the problem and begin enjoying your sleep again. In this article, you’ll learn more about what causes night sweating, what to do about it, and potential symptoms that point out the need to see a doctor.

Quick answer: Night sweats are most often caused by something simple - an overheated bedroom, heavy bedding, or alcohol before bed. Hormonal shifts (menopause and perimenopause in particular) are one of the most common recurring causes, along with anxiety and stress, certain medications (antidepressants, hormone drugs, some blood pressure medications), low blood sugar, and infections that run a fever. Less commonly, persistent night sweats can point to a thyroid condition or another underlying illness. This is general information, not a diagnosis - see a doctor if the sweating is drenching, happens most nights, or comes with fever, unexplained weight loss, or other new symptoms.

What Causes Night Sweats?

Many things do cause night sweating, but luckily most of them are not serious. However, repeated sweating might be an indication of an underlying medical condition. Here are some of the common causes of the night sweating.

What to Do About Night Sweats?

Typically, the right approach to treat your night sweating will depend on the underlying cause. The first step you need to take when you suspect a sweating problem is to visit your doctor. They will diagnose the problem and recommend one or a few of the following treatment options:

• Avoidance of triggers: If your night sweating is triggered by spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs, you’ll be required to make the necessary steps to avoid these triggers. More importantly, you’ll need to stop taking these substances before going to sleep.

• Change of sleeping environment: Even if the weather is chilling, don’t overdress while sleeping. Use breathable beddings and sleepwear made from natural fabric. It’s also advisable to invest in a fan or air-conditioning system in your bedroom.

• Exercise and meditation: Doing this before going to bed will help your mind relax and focus, mostly if you have a mental issue.

• Adjust dosage or change your medication: If you are sweating excessively due to medication, your doctor might give you alternative drugs or adjust the dosage.

• Hormonal therapy: This will help to reduce the frequencies of hot flashes during menopause and, in so doing, minimize night sweating.

• Treat the underlying medical condition: If the sweating results from an underlying illness, your physician will recommend a treatment plan for it. This means alleviation of the symptoms, including night sweating.

Is Night Sweating Dangerous, and Should I See a Doctor?

You shouldn’t worry if the night sweating occurs once in a while. However, if it is persistent, interrupts your sleep, and doesn’t resolve with home remedies, you need to see a doctor. Additionally, sweating that’s accompanied by the following symptoms needs the attention of a doctor:

• Stomach pain and diarrhea

• Bloody or chronic cough

• Localized aches and pain

• Unexplained weight loss

• Chills and high fever

Be sure to mention all these symptoms to your doctor. They will get to the bottom of the problem and hopefully find the right treatment for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes night sweats?

The most common causes are an overheated room, heavy bedding or sleepwear, and alcohol before bed. Hormonal changes from menopause or perimenopause, anxiety and stress, certain medications, and infections that cause fever are also frequent culprits. This is general information and not a substitute for a doctor's evaluation if the sweating is severe or persistent.

What causes night sweats in women?

In women, night sweats are frequently tied to hormonal shifts around menopause and perimenopause, when dropping estrogen levels trigger hot flashes overnight. They can also happen earlier in the cycle around ovulation or before a period, or during pregnancy, due to normal hormonal fluctuation. Persistent or severe sweating outside of these patterns is worth mentioning to a doctor.

What causes night sweats in men?

In men, night sweats are usually linked to an overheated sleep environment, alcohol, anxiety, or certain medications rather than a hormonal cause. Less commonly, low testosterone, infections, or other underlying conditions can play a role, especially if the sweating is new, frequent, or paired with other symptoms.

Why do I sweat at night even when it's cold?

If the room is cool but you're still soaking the sheets, the cause is more likely internal - hormonal fluctuation, anxiety, a medication side effect, or an infection running a low fever - rather than the environment. It's a good reason to loop in a doctor, especially if it happens regularly.

Can medications cause night sweats?

Yes. Antidepressants (especially SSRIs), some hormone therapies, diabetes medications, and certain blood pressure drugs are commonly associated with night sweats as a side effect. If a night sweat pattern started around the same time as a new prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's a known side effect before changing anything on your own.

When should I see a doctor about night sweats?

See a doctor if the sweating is drenching enough to soak your sheets, happens most nights, or is accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss, chills, persistent cough, or localized pain. Occasional night sweats tied to a warm room or a late glass of wine usually aren't cause for concern.

Nearly everyone has experienced an episode of sweating while sleeping at some point in life. It’s a common phenomenon that shouldn’t worry you much. Even so, you should be concerned if the sweating persists longer than expected, seems to interfere with your sleep, or is accompanied by other symptoms. In that case, you need to see a doctor.

Night sweats can be caused by several factors, including alcohol intake before bed, medication, sweat disorder, hormonal disorders, menopause, medical illnesses, stress, and even poor sleeping habits. When you seek medical help, your doctor will diagnose the problem and unearth the root cause of your excessive sweating at night. They’ll then give the right recommendations based on the diagnosis.

While you work out the cause, the bed itself can take some of the edge off. Breathable sheets, a lighter duvet, and a cooling gel pillow that draws heat away from your head and neck will not cure a medical problem, but they make the milder nights far easier to sleep through.

But, as you seek any intervention, remember that night sweating is treatable.