Waking Up in a Sweat at Night? There’s a Reason!

Night sweats are very common and happen to a lot of the worlds’ population.

To sweat while sleeping means that you awaken clammy and perspiring. Also known as "Sleep Hyperhidrosis", this condition involves repeated episodes of extreme sweating that can leave you feeling drenched and your sheets soaked. In most cases, you can rule out the cause being attributed to wearing too many blankets or a hot temperature in your bedroom. There are many underlying physical reasons as to why you’re waking up in a sweat!

Some Possible Causes

Some of the most non-serious and common causes for night sweats are found in the things we consume.

For example, the consumption of these products can cause night sweats:

• caffeine
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• and/or certain illicit drugs

If you’re a female, and at a certain age, your night sweating may be caused by menopause or premenopause. Night sweats are the equivalent to hot flashes, and are most common during the menopausal transition as hormone levels constantly change.

Night sweating can often be a side effect of prescription medications as well.

For example, medications to treat depression, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can often cause night sweats. The Mayo Clinic also states that hormone therapy medication can cause night sweats, as well as drugs that lower your blood sugar level.

A more severe cause could possibly be Tuberculosis.

While night sweats can be caused by a number of issues that are easily managed or fixed, some reasons are caused by serious illnesses and diseases such as tuberculosis. In centuries past, tuberculosis was the most common cause of night sweats. This potentially fatal and highly contagious disease most commonly infected the lungs and caused severe night sweats. Cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma, and congestive heart failure are also possible culprits.

How to Treat Night Sweats?

In order to treat night sweats, you will need to consult your doctor.

Your doctor will take the necessary steps to address their underlying cause and your recommended treatment plan will depend on your specific diagnosis.

• If you experience night sweats as a result of menopause, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy. This treatment may help reduce the number of hot flashes you experience and alleviate other symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe other medications, such as gabapentin, clonidine, or venlafaxine, which are used off-label for night sweats.
• If an underlying infection is the reason behind your night sweats, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and/or other medications to help treat it. However, for night sweats caused by cancer, your doctor may recommend a combination of chemotherapy drugs, surgery, or other treatments.
• If your night sweats are in relation to any medications that you’re taking, your doctor may adjust your dosage or recommend an alternative drug.
• If caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, or drug use is the cause of your night sweats, your doctor may advise you to limit or avoid these substances. In some cases, they may prescribe medications or recommend therapy to help you quit all together.

Your doctor may also recommend that you adjust your sleeping habits such as removing blankets from your bed, wearing lighter pajamas, or opening a window in your bedroom. It may also help to use air conditioning or a fan, or find a cooler place to sleep.

How Can I Prevent Night Sweats?

Some causes of night sweats can be prevented.

To lower your risk of experiencing night sweats:

• limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine
• avoid using tobacco and illegal drugs
• keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature, cooler at night than during the day
• don’t exercise, eat spicy foods, or consume warm drinks too close to bedtime
• get prompt medical attention if you suspect you have an infection or other illness

You can always ask your doctor for more information about your specific condition, the treatment options, and other strategies to prevent night sweats.

How Can My Mattress Help?

Mattress Express offers numerous brands of beds that actually help facilitate and regulate body temperature while you sleep!

Through cool chambers and heat alleviating fabrics, many mattresses are now commonly built to help keep you cool throughout the night. And with the added structural features and technology in todays’ time, many beds take a more health centered approach to their design. For example, the Serta iComfort Hybrid not only offers cooling technology but incredible structural support to have you sleeping in a comfortable and healthy position every night. A mattress that regulates your body temperature can help decrease night sweat episodes. At Mattress World Northwest, not only do our mattresses keep you cool, they also help keep your body alignment which has huge health benefits that can prevent other sleep issues as well! So come to one of our many locations and see for yourself what benefits await you from a new mattress!     Sources

• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/four-common-causes-night-sweats
• https://www.activebeat.com/your-health/10-common-medical-causes-of-night-sweats/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/night-sweats