Do you just need some night sweats relief? If you’re confident your night sweats don’t have a dire underlying cause but you still want help getting through the night, try these inexpensive and safe ways to obtain night sweats relief. Keep in mind you should always consult a physician about your night sweats causes before trying to treat them with simple herbal remedies. To stop night sweats, you first need to understand their origin.

In this article I am aiming for simple herbal remedies for sleep hyperhidrosis; if you desire more hand-on solutions, please my article on night sweats treatment or my article on sweating while sleeping. This is also not about more comprehensive treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Relief From Night Sweats With A Soothing Tea

There are three components to an effective tea for helping sleep and minimizing your night sweating. First, you want to integrate chamomile. Chamomile relaxes and calms your nerves. Second, you want your tea to feature a a robust helping of sage. Sage can help reduce your body temperature and calms the nerve endings that my trigger night sweats. And third, you want to prepare your tea fresh the day you decide to drink it, but brew it well before bed so you can refrigerate it. No matter how soothing and relaxing the tea, a hot liquid right before bed when you’re concerned with perspiring just isn’t a good idea.

Make sure you brew your tea strong; sage and chamomile are mild herbs and to really experience tangible result, you need your soothing tea for night sweats to feature strong doses of each of these herbs.

If you can drink it straight, I encourage you to do so. However, I understand if you want to sweeten it a little. I encourage you try agave nectar, or even better, stevia. These two natural plant-based sweeteners won’t spike your blood sugar the same as sugar or honey and they taste great.

A chamomile and sage tea is a common and well-received relief for hot flashes and menopause night sweats.

Osha for Night Sweats Relief

Osha is a perennial plant that grows in rugged alpine environments, like in the Rocky Mountains. Osha doesn’t directly inhibit night sweating, but rather supports the mechanisms your body uses to prevent sweating at night in the first place.

Since osha may cause your body to perspire a little when you first take it, I encourage you to try this herbal remedy for night sweats well before you go to bed. The reason it may initially and temporarily cause you to perspire a little is that it helps your body eliminate toxins through your pores and sweat glands. In the long run, because it makes these functions more efficient and productive, you require less perspiration to achieve the same result. However, when you first take it sometimes people’s bodies immediately perspire a little to trigger that expulsion of toxins.

Additionally, osha appears to curb some of the symptoms of a virus, inflammation or bacteria. Please note that this doesn’t indicate that it treats these conditions, just that it helps your body minimize some of the inevitable symptoms. Osha is often referenced when discussing relief for night sweats in men.

Because osha may help your body excrete toxins through your pores, some people believe it may specifically assist you with the sort of night sweats alcohol causes.

Night Sweats Relief With Astragalus

Astragalus allegedly improves blood flow to the surface of your skin. By increasing circulation to the capillaries near the surface of your skin, astragalus improve your body’s ability to dissipate your body, thus providing relief for night sweats by preventing them from happening in the first place.

The specific kind of astralagus you will seek is called Astragalus propinquus. There are many types of astragalus and it goes by many names, including milk vetch, goat’s horn and locoweed. The genus is made up of small herbs and shrubs.

Many believe astragalus is especially effective of minimizing panic sweats or sudden sweats, or the dramatic severe night sweats that can occur with hot flashes and night sweats. Some of this is not verified with clinical evidence, so do your own research before trying this method for obtaining night sweats relief.

Calcium and Magnesium for Night Sweat Relief

When you perspire, you not only excrete toxins but you may also eliminate some necessary minerals. Excessive sweating may lead to mineral deficiency. Thus supplementing yourself with calcium and magnesium my be a good idea. Since these mineral tend to sooth and calm your nerves soon after consumption, they also make a great supplement to help you obtain relief from night sweats and achieve a better night’s sleep.

You can mix and match these different therapies. I personally really like to take powdered magnesium and calcium supplement poured and mixed into a cool chamomile and sage tea, but a different combination may work better for different people. However, I think it is important that you take a proactive approach to seeking night sweats relief because poor sleep will reduce your overall quality of life.

I’d like to address Night Sweats In Men as the more commonly discussed hot flashes and menopause night sweats have been covered extensively by the public at large. Obviously I don’t mean to compromise the seriousness or difficulty of menopause; I just mean that in general we see relatively little discussion specifically about night sweats in men, its causes and effective remedies for these male night sweats.

Of course, I should distinguish true night sweats and sleep disorders related to night sweats in men from simple environmental heat experienced by many. Forty percent of all doctor visits involve a complaint about night sweating, yet a much smaller percentage of these visits actually involve a real clinical case of sleep hyperhidrosis or idiopathic hyperhidrosis. It will aid you in your treatment to know if you’re suffering true night sweats or if you’re just suffering environmental discomfort from your bedroom being too hot for sound sleep.

The night sweats men experience can be caused by several of the same things that cause night sweats in women, yet just as women uniquely experience menopausal hot flashes, men experience their own uniquely male night sweats.

• Night Sweats in Men or Andropause Night Sweats
• Andropause Symptoms
• What Causes Night Sweats In Men?
• Night Sweats In Men Treatments

Night Sweats In Men or Andropause Night Sweats

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There are a number of reasons the night sweats men experience are difficult to pinpoint, some of them universal and some specific to male night sweats. With this article I will address those specific night sweats in males, so for other causes of night sweats in men which may trigger night sweats in anyone, please visit my website’s front page: Night Sweats.

The first cause of night sweats in men we’ll discuss is andropause. Yes, andropause, sometimes referred to as male menopause. It does exist. Well, at least more and more research compels people to think so. Just as women experience a reduction in their production of certain hormones during menopause, many feel that men experience a reduction in testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone during an andropause phase. The kind of nite sweats men experience is often associated with this phenomenon.

Night Sweats In Men

You will find some controversy in the medical community about the overall nature and condition of andropause and its relation to the night sweats men experience. Some simply consider it a “state” or phase, while others consider it a potential “disorder.” If you experience many of these symptoms in your middle or early manhood and you’re cleared of any other medical conditions which may cause them, you may be diagnosed with an andropause disorder. However if you experience this as an older man, it may simply be diagnosed as a state or phase.

Yet because men can continue to reproduce well into their old age, some researchers feel this is a “false” diagnosis or label for this “disorder.” Put simply, there really isn’t a cut and dry answer for what andropause means just yet.

Andropause Symptoms

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Common symptoms of andropause (whether defined as a state or disorder) are as follows:

• Hot flashes
• Excessive perspiration
• Loss of libido
• Impotence
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Impaired memory
• Lack of concentration
• Fatigue
• Insomnia

Of course, you may not experience all these symptoms (let’s hope not, right?), but let’s focus on the hot flashes and excessive perspiration symptoms since they relate directly to night sweats in men. It is important to understand that these result from hormonal changes in your body and those hormonal changes affect your hypothalamus — your body’s thermostat. And while more drastic and permanent hormonal changes occur during andropause, it isn’t uncommon for men to experience an ebb and flow of hormones (specifically the testosterone or the estrogen hormone) throughout their life, causing occasional cold sweats or cold night sweats.

An embarrassing for some but real example involves a common occurrence for most healthy men. It isn’t uncommon for a man to experience random erections while asleep. This is a result of hormonal rushes in the body. These same hormonal rushes can cause night sweats in men. Often it isn’t unhealthy or unnatural, but if the sweats become more severe and more consistent each night, then you should discuss this with your primary care physician or check with a medical professional.

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What Causes Night Sweats In Men?

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While this article is mostly about night sweats in men, I must also note that some dangerous conditions can be indicated by night sweats, including:

• HIV or AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Thyroiditis or Hyperthyroidism
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Diabetes (Type I or Type II) or Hypoglycemia (in this case sometimes referred to as Nocturnal Hypoglycemia
• Infections of any sort along with infectious diseases
• Malignancy or cancer: cancers can cause sudden rising and falling body temperatures, which leads to sweating. The night sweats cancer causes tend to be pretty distinct and severe, but always check with your doctor if you’re concerned.
• Silent Neoplasm
• Specifically, lymphoma often causes sudden and severe night sweating like the severe hot flashes women experience during perimenopause.
• Heart conditions along with high cholesterol
• Any kind of inflammation
• Neurological conditions
• Stroke
• Endocarditis (Inflammation in your heart)
• Sleep apnea
• Anxiety and Stress or related mental health issues.
• Pain, especially joint and back pain.

If you experience a sudden change in your pattern of night sweats or sweating while sleeping which involves more severe or more frequent excessive sweating, consider consulting a physician. It may be nothing to be concerned about, but of course it is better safe than sorry and any such signs or complications should be addressed by a professional. I always encourage people to begin immediately to seek appropriate night sweats treatment, but you must also treat the underlying cause or condition. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you avoid tragedy.

Keep in mind that sometimes factors outside of any medical condition or disease can cause severe night sweats in men. These could include:

• Side-effects from prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.
• Specifically, antipyretic medications such as acetaminophen may cause night sweating.
• Any psychological states or conditions that trigger the autonomic nervous system or cortisone, such as anxiety or fear.
• Consuming or experiencing anything that causes flushing, including alcohol, niacin or caffeine.
• Poor diet or eating foods like spicy foods, excess heavy and fatty foods or food allergies.
• Obesity or rapid weight gain
• A lifestyle with poor diet, irregular sleeping patterns or too much stress.
• Alcohol Withdrawal

Night Sweats In Men Treatments

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Male night sweats treatments are as nebulous as men’s night sweats causes. If you are suffering from night sweats in men, I suggest you first isolate whether it is something persistent or just the result of diet or a bad habit (like drinking alcohol or caffeine too close to bed time or smoking). If it is something persistent, you might discuss the matter with your doctor. In lieu of a specific medical diagnosis, I encourage you to read my detailed post on treating night sweats: night sweats treatment.

I also suggest you address the matter with poise and common sense. Sometimes simple and natural solutions like changing the environment in the bedroom to be less warm can make a world of a difference. Wicking pajamas or lighter sleepwear, light breathable materials for your sheets and better temperature control in your home may be all you need to combat your night sweats in men causes. If you can prevent your male night sweats or find relief without resorting to expensive medicines or doctor’s visits — great! But don’t be afraid to seek appropriate health care, either. Always ask a doctor instead of the Internet when it doubt.

As you can see, it is possible some men can empathize for a woman’s battle with menopause night sweats. Men night sweats may be less discussed and less understood, but they still exist and they still serve to make for long and sleepless nights, even if such male night sweats are the result of normal hormonal changes.

I hope this helps you better understand the specific night sweats in men. I encourage you return to my Night Sweats site often as I roll out more and more detailed information to round out your understanding of night sweats in general as well as specific night sweating in men.

While several volumes of books could be written on different night sweats treatment theories and ideas, on this page I will try to quickly summarize several options for practical and accessible night sweats treatment for you to implement. I don’t know if real night sweat cures exist for all circumstances, but I encourage you to consider at least one or two of the remedies I describe here.

I will expand on some of these at a later date, but for now you can select one of these below index links to jump down to the appropriate section. I hope this helps!

Common Sense Night Sweats Treatment
Natural Treatment for Night Sweats
Night Sweats Remedies
Night Sweats in Men Treatment
Menopause Night Sweats Treatment
Treat Night Sweats With the Chillow, The BedFan and Wicking Pajamas

Common Sense Night Sweats Treatment

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First I’d like to address some basics to make sure you begin your night sweats relief with a common sense foundation. These night sweat cures may not seem exciting or evoke great epiphanies, but I believe they’re necessary steps in the treatment of night sweats.

Set the Proper Temperature for Sleeping

As I describe in my sweating while sleeping article, humans prefer a cooler temperature when they sleep than when they’re awake. While the exact right temperature for restful sleep is still up for debate, some studies indicate that the temperature may be around 66 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important that you recognize the difference between the temperature indicated by your thermostat and the ambient temperature in and around your bedroom, bed and body.

If you discover that ambient temperature is well above the 66 to 68 degree area, you need to somehow get that temperature under control before you can realistically focus on other night sweats causes. Crack a window, place standing fan or install a ceiling fan… but do something.

Be Careful What You Eat and Drink Before Bed

The usual suspects are the culprit in this case: foods and beverages containing caffeine (including chocolate), alcohol, dense and fatty foods and spicy foods will all contribute to your suffering night sweats symptoms.

Night Sweats Treatment

Additionally, I think people underestimate how close to bed they should avoid these foods and beverages. An hour isn’t enough time: I encourage you to avoid these foods at least 2 to 3 hours before bed and ideally you shouldn’t consume either caffeine or alcohol in the evening at all (at least while you’re trying to determine the cause of your sweating at night).

You will find some foods and beverages that help prevent your night sweat. But I’ll leave that for the next section below.

Natural Treatment for Night Sweats

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Chamomile tea may soothe and calm you while peppermint tea can both cool you and your heat-generating digestive tract. If you’re concerned with drinking a hot beverage near bed time, you can brew a strong tea earlier in the day then refrigerate it to make an iced tea.

If you don’t mind the scent of peppermint, a quality peppermint essential oil can help in a variety of ways. Some people put a dab on the back of their neck. Some put it on the soles of their feet. You can even put a couple drops in some water and ice for sipping as you prepare for bed. Unfortunately peppermint also has an awakening effect, so be careful with how much you use. If you think this sounds silly, just wait until you try it for yourself.

A really popular natural treatment for hot flashes and night sweats is black cohosh. And that will make for a nice segue into my night sweats remedies section.

Night Sweats Remedies

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Black Cohosh

Straddling the natural treatments and the night sweats remedies sections is black cohosh. Black cohosh, or scientifically, Actaea racemosa, is an herbal remedy created from the roots and rhizomes of this herbaceous perennial plant. This would be considered an alternative therapy as the science supporting its use is inconsistent and controversial.

It is primarily used for women, menopause and even premenstrual tension. Its origin as a therapy derive from its use by Native Americans for alleged anti-inflammatory, sedative and pain-relieving properties.

I will write a whole page on the black cohosh phenomenon because it has become so popular, but I want to be clear that I am not personally recommending it. I know a couple people that swear by it, but it didn’t personally work for me and I am a little skeptical about its legitimacy as a therapy.

Simple, Natural Night Sweat Relief

Once simple night sweat cure — or cure for excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis) of any sort is to place a cool glass, cool, damp wash cloth or run some cool water over your wrists. This is a really neat and genuinely useful trick that will quickly provide your body an overall cooled sensation. I kept a small bowl near my bed with a clean wash cloth and a bunch of ice cubes. When I felt hot, I reached for the wash cloth and held it against my wrist or wrists.

Because your veins gather at the junction of your wrists, you cool your blood as it passes this point and then the blood cools the rest of your body. It is a simple, safe and effective way to cool yourself anytime.

Another simple, natural way to find some relief in the night is to use lighter, more breathable fabric for your pajamas and your bed sheets. Further down, I discuss some other products and devices along this line that can provide natural relief without resorting to drugs.

Night Sweats in Men Treatment

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One problem men have with night sweats is that so many night sweats therapies are targeted at women and their menopausal hot flashes. But as I discuss in my night sweats in men article, men are almost as likely to experience hormone-based changes that lead to night sweats as women. And men are just as likely to experience some of the serious illnesses that can lead to sleep hyperhidrosis, such as HIV symptoms, symptoms of lymphoma, hyperthyroidism, the night sweats cancer may cause and more.

For men, I encourage you to not shy away from remedies often directed at women but just as practical for men. Don’t feel too manly about sipping chamomile iced tea before you go to bed and don’t be stubborn about trying some moisture wicking pajamas.

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Menopause Night Sweats Treatment

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On the alternative therapy side you have supplements and herbs, such as black cohosh and Estroven, and on the medical site you have HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I suggest you try the many natural and safe therapies I’ve included on this page before you attempt to treat your menopause night sweats with drugs.

The problem with drugs is that they often evoke side-effects which may ultimately exacerbate your night sweats or hot flashes. For example, the night sweats Zoloft can cause are not unlike the night sweats alcohol provokes. I don’t mean to sound too anti-drug — my doctor friends wouldn’t approve — but I do suggest taking a safe, natural and simple approach to treating your night sweats before you bring out the big guns.

Treat Night Sweats With the Chillow, The BedFan and Wicking Pajamas

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I will write pages on each of these devices in the near future, but I wanted to at least introduce you to these three clever products that may be worth your money if you’re serious about your night sweats treatment. Unlike some sketchy herbal remedies out there, these are practical common sense solutions to over heating in the night. If you can manage, I encourage you to use the three together for maximum relief:

The Chillow

I’m sure you’re familiar with the way your pillow warms up from the heat of your face. I’ve always loved flipping the pillow to the cool side. Well, the pillow basically allows the surface side to stay cool all the time. It absorbs the heat from your face and shoulders and helps them stay cool.

Bed Fans

Most bed fans operate by connecting to the foot of your mattress, the blowing a light breeze beneath your sheets along your body. This breeze lifts away the heat eminating from your body.

Wicking Pajamas

Wicking pajamas, particularly the excellent Cool Jams brand of wicking pajamas, use a carefully designed material and texture to literally wick away moisture from your body while you sleep. This helps you by both keeping you cooler and keeping you drier. While most moisture wicking pajamas you’ll find will be for women, Cool Jams also makes men’s pajamas, t-shirts and boxers. Don’t be shy about trying them, boys: they’re very effective!

I really hope something in this article help you to find a more healthy and restful night’s sleep with effective night sweats treatment. Some of these topics have endless depths to explore so I’ll expand on them with additional pages on Night Sweats.

Although sweating while sleeping is largely the same thing as experiencing night sweats, I receive quite a few inquiries regarding this specific phenomenon so I will try to address it by itself. If you find yourself sweating while sleeping often, I suggest you try some of these steps. If you continue to suffer from the sweats while asleep (or cold sweats while sleeping), then I will assist you in identifying potential causes. However, I always urge people to consult their medical doctor if they have serious concerns about their health.

Excessive Sweating While Sleeping

Excessive sweating while sleeping is known clinically as sleep hyperhidrosis. Sweating while sleeping causes are often harmless, so I urge you not to panic. Panic attacks while sleeping won’t help you curb your rising body temperature as you try to get a good night’s sleep.

Sweating at night while sleeping often occurs for genetic reasons or simple environmental reasons. If your dad sweat at night even in good health and you do too, you may simply have to learn to handle it as best as you can. Fortunately both genetic and environmental causes of sweating while sleeping can be treated much the same way. Whether the origin of your night sweats are serious or not, you should address this disruption of your sleep cycle as waking with damp sheets can still affect your overall health if you can’t get a good night’s rest.

Environmental Treatments for Night Sweating While Sleeping

First I want to encourage you to step back and really think about your sleep environment. There are four specific areas I suggest you address:

Set the Optimum Sleep Temperature to Stop Night Sweats

Humans prefer cooler temperatures when they’re sleeping. The ideal temperature for sleeping may vary depending on the individual, but generally the temperature in your bedroom should be between 66 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit (which may cooler than you expected). Get a cheap room temperature gauge at your local department store or discount super store and determine the temperature of your bedroom on most nights. If it is more than a couple degrees above the recommended sleep temperature, consider lowering the thermostat during the winter months and increasing the air conditioner during the summer months. See if you can integrate either a ceiling fan or a table fan into your room, but be careful not to let it push high velocity air right at you.

Room Air Circulation

Even beyond the air temperature, humans by default don’t like being trapped in dead air. By dead air I mean air which is entirely still. While it is also unhealthy to have too much of a breeze on you while you sleep, you might check the air movement. A lack of air movement may be associated with anxiety and panic attacks. Sometimes all you need to do is create a path for air to move. For example, open your bedroom door and your closet door. This might be just enough to encourage some kind of air flow through the air. Of course, a fan or an open window can provide common sense night sweats treatment and can help immensely.

Bedsheets for Night Sweating, Material and Weight

Sweating While Sleeping

You’d be surprised how often I learn that people who are suffering from sweating while sleeping use thick, heavy fabrics while they sleep. And because stylish blankets with shiny patterns are popular, people often cover themselves with blankets that don’t easily breathe (like polyester). So check the tags on those blankets and bed sheets. Ideally, you want light materials made from cotton or linen. Linen is ideal, but it can be expensive. A quality 100 percent cotton sheet will do fine as well. Note that this means it should be either 100 percent cotton or 100 percent linen… or a combination of just those two fabrics. If it has any polyester or satin in it, you want to remove it from your bedroom. Instead of relying on heavy sheets or blankets, rely on lighter materials and use layers.

Clothes or Pajamas for Night Sweating, Material and Weight

The same variables I described in regards to bed sheets and blankets goes for sleep clothes or pajamas. You want those pajamas to be made from light, breathable material. Again, linen is ideal, but cotton is great too. You may even find some pleasant wicking pajamas these days. Those pajamas, which grew in popularity for their use by menopausal women, help to wick away moisture and heat. But they can be effective even if you don’t suffer from menopause night sweats.

Natural Remedies for Sweating While Sleeping

Here are some simple, natural remedies for treating your night sweating. Please note that these are meant for people who are experiencing genetic or environmental night sweats. If you’re confident you’re experiencing unusually severe sweating while sleeping, I urge you to consult with your physician.

• Let’s start simple. Keep a cool glass of water near your bed while you sleep. Should you awaken, take a sip of the cool water.
• Keep a couple ice cubes in that glass to make sure it is useful for this next tip: if you feel your temperature rising, place your wrists against the cool glass and hold them there for several seconds. As your blood flows through this junction, it will cool and then cool the rest of your body as it flows on. (This is a great trick to use anywhere and anytime, by the way.)
• Use specially designed bed devices to help you cool yourself. I suggest the chillow and if you really want to get elaborate, try the bedfan. These two devices provide an entirely natural and comfortable way to reduce your sleeping temperature in a safe and effective way. I usually only suggest them for more severe situations, but many people enjoy their benefits, even people who don’t specifically suffer from night sweats.

• This won’t help if you’re suffering from night sweats in men, but if you’re suffering from menopause, you might try taking black cohosh. This natural herbal remedy has helped many (though not all) women suffering from menopause hot flashes sweating.
• Try a small amount of tryptophan-heavy foods an hour before bed (peanut butter is tasty, easy and high in tryptophan).
• Try some relaxing herbal remedies, such as chamomile and valerian. You might also try melatonin, which helps your body reset its sleep cycle through a naturally-occuring hormone.

Medical Causes for Excessive Night Sweating

Do try to address your sweating while sleeping through environmental control and natural remedies before you consider more serious conditions. I say this because a vast majority of night sweats cases aren’t serious, but when they are serious, they can be very serious. Here are some cold sweats while sleeping causes with medical origins:

• Medication side-effects: Study enough labels and you’ll find that night sweating is one of the most common side-effects of potent prescription drugs. If you’re really experiencing a drenching night sweats, discuss your medications with your physician.
• Infections: Even minor infections can cause you to sweat at night. However, you should also be on the lookout for more serious infections which may cause profuse night seats. These include tuberculosis, endocarditis (heart valve swelling), osteomyelitis (bone inflammation) and an AIDS infection from the HIV virus.
• Abscesses: You might think this should fit under infections, but a long list of seemingly simple abscesses can cause severe sweating while sleeping. This includes boils and even dental infections (yes, tooth decay can cause night sweats). Note that some of these, like appendicitis, can be very, very serious.
• Diabetes and Hypoglycemia: Individuals suffering from diabetes or hypoglycemia who are taking insulin or other medications to moderate their blood sugar may suffer from sweating while sleeping.
• Hormonal Changes: As I mentioned earlier, women experiencing menopause often experience hot flashes at night. But that’s not the only time our body’s may experience radical shifts in body temperature. Men may experience a kind of andropause and it isn’t unusual for individuals to experience night sweats during adolescence or during pregnancy as well.

There are, of course, many other causes of excessive sweating while sleeping, but I think this is essay is getting long enough already. In another article I cover, more generally, the causes of excessive sweating. In this article I have covered most of the common causes and provided you with some common sense solutions. I sincerely hope my suggestions help you curb your sweat glands and get through the night cool and dry.

The sleep condition known as Sleep Hyperhidrosis is commonly called night sweats. Its medical definition is excessive sweating during sleep. There is no correlation between night sweats and excessive sweating during waking hours. Some people with sleep hyperhidrosis do not sweat excessively during their waking hours while some do.

Primary Hyperhidrosis Vs Secondary Hyperhidrosis

With some research you will discover two types of hyperhidrosis, primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis. Medical science has not discovered the cause of primary night sweats. It is so severe it impairs a person’s ability to engage in daily activities such as work, school, family and social affairs. Primary hyperhidrosis’s only treatment is the surgical removal of the specific sweat glands responsible for the condition. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis, a form of primary hyperhidrosis, is a chronic condition where the body simply produces too much sweat.

Sleep Hyperhidrosis

Secondary hyperhidrosis is usually symptomatic of another condition or of lifestyle choices. Lifestyle changes or appropriate night sweats treatment of the underlying condition will often cure the secondary night sweats.

Secondary Sleep Hyperhidrosis Causes

There are many causes of secondary night sweats. Menopause is the most common cause of night sweats through hot flashes at night, but this does not mean night sweats in men aren’t possible. Here are some other more common causes:

• Any illness or infection with a fever, especially tuberculosis
• Epilespy
• Cerebral palsy
• Sudden onset migraine
• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• Anti-nausea medications
• pregnancy
• head or spinal cord injuries
• lesions on the hypothalamus
• Diabetes insipidus

In addition, diet and lifestyle can cause sleep hyperhidrosis. The night sweats alcohol causes can be confusing but relatively simple to resolve while the night sweats stress causes may require a more fundamental shift in one’s outlook.

Degree Of Severity For Secondary Night Sweats

The degree of severity for secondary sleep hyperhidrosis varies from person to person. In mild cases, the patient just needs to change the pillow case and keep a glass of cool water on the nightstand. Some patients need to get up and wash themselves, then change their sleepwear as well as their bedsheets. If the night sweats get to the point where the sleep loss interferes with daily functions, a visit to the doctor’s office is required. Discovery and treatment of the underlying disease or injury is the only way to cure secondary night sweats.

Diagnosing Night Sweats Causes and Prescribing Sleep Hyperhidrosis Treatment

Many primary care physicians will attempt to diagnosis severe sleep hyperhidrosis with a polysomnography. This is a visit to a sleep laboratory. The patient will sleep overnight at the laboratory. Several monitors will be attached to the patient to record brain functions, breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure while asleep. The procedures are very safe; they just sound a little scary.

The lab results will help doctors narrow the possible causes of the night sweats until the cause is diagnosed and a plan of treatment started.

The cold sweats (clinically known as hyperhidrosis) refers to a sudden sweating or clamminess of the skin characterized by simultaneous perspiration due to fear, pain, nervousness or shock. These sweats can appear anytime during the day but are common in the late evening or night, typically known as cold night sweats. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of cold sweats as in some cases they can represent larger problem. Reoccurring cold sweats while sleeping or cold night sweats should be diagnosed and treated by a physician.

Cold Night Sweats

For more details on potential causes, I suggest reading night sweats in men and night sweats in women.

The reason they’re considered cold sweats is that the human body’s hypothalamus — our internal thermostat — is using perspiration along with other biological mechanisms to cool the body. Because your body temperature is dropping while you’re sweating, you feel chills at the same time that you sweat. Unfortunately, several external and internal variables may confuse our hypothalamus and cause it to trigger these biological mechanisms even when unnecessary.

Cold Sweats and Cold Night Sweats

Cold night sweats are typically cold sweats that occur during the night and often wake the person from their sleep. There are other practical reasons for sweating during the night such as hot weather or a overly warm bedroom, too many blankets, over-heating while sleeping, hot drinks or spicy foods before bed or exercising too soon before going to sleep. Nightmares, emotional problems, sleep apnea, sleep-walking, fever and perimenopause are also common causes of night sweats. There are likely to be other causes so it’s best to talk to your physician about your symptoms to rule out any potential health care issues or diseases.

Symptoms of Cold Sweats

Setting cold sweats and cold sweats while sleeping apart from regular perspiration can be difficult at times. One of the most obvious indicators of cold sweats is that they come on suddenly and at any temperature. When waking up with a cold night sweat symptom, first check the temperature in the room and the amount of insulation covering your body before assuming cold sweats at night represents sleep hyperhidrosis. During a cold sweat or cold night sweat, the skin will feel cold, moist, and clammy. The individual may feel nausea, dizziness and he or she may become pale.

Cold Night Sweats Causes

There are various causes of cold sweats including menopause night sweats, hormones, medical conditions (such as diabetes or infections like tuberculosis) and medications (especially antipyretics). Stress in itself can cause cold sweats and cold night sweats, as well as shock, intense pain from injuries or medical problems, severe shortness of breath, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and anxiety and fear that lead to excessive stress. Cold sweats are commonly a chronic problem for many individuals that can be caused by a hormonal imbalance such as low estrogen symptoms (hence why it is a common symptom of adolescence, pregnancy or menopause) or chronic illness such as HIV or cancer.

But before you panic, please note that a huge percentage of healthy people may suffer from cold night sweats at some point and it is rarely a result of a serious condition.

Cold Sweats Treatment

While there is no specific clinical treatment for cold sweats and cold night sweats, if it is secondary hyperhidrosis a physician may be able to find an underlying cause and treat that underlying condition. Unless you are suffering from primary hyperhidrosis, or idiopathic hyperhidrosis, the cold sweats are not an illness in itself but a symptom of another condition. Your physician may recommend changes in the environment such as a temperature decrease. It’s also recommended to avoid alcohol and spicy foods, and to participate in relaxation techniques such as meditation. There are a few medications, such as anticholinergic drugs, available to individuals suffering from cold sweats but they can have various side effects such as vision problems, dry mouth and shaking.

For a more comprehensive discussion of treatments for cold sweats while sleeping, read night sweats treatment.

Because night sweats in women can be the result of many things, including wearing too many bedclothes, covering up with bulky covers at night, or sleeping in a sweltering bedroom, night sweats in women can also be caused by menopause via menopause night sweats, certain medications, and medical conditions.

Medical Causes of Night Sweats In Women

The following medical conditions have been known to cause night sweats in women:

• idiopathic hyperhidrosis and sleep hyperhidrosis
• bacterial infections like tuberculosis and inflammation of the heart valves
• HIV/AIDS
• lymphoma
• hypoglycemia
• diabetes
• hormone disorders such as hyperthyroidism
• neurological conditions

For more on conditions behind night sweats, visit night sweats causes. One tricky condition is insomnia. Sometimes it acts as the trigger for night sweats and sometimes it is a symptom.

How to Reduce Night Sweats in Women

Night Sweats In Women

Most night sweats in women only happen every once in a while, and the majority of these episodes are harmless. But waking up with soaking wet covers and pajamas can be a bit annoying, so finding relief from symptoms is important. Here are some ways to control excess sweating at night.

Manage night sweats stress with regular exercise such as walking, jogging, biking, or swimming to ward off night sweats. However, do not do these types of exercises prior to bedtime; they raise the body’s core temperature and increase perspiration while sleeping. Meditation and deep breathing techniques are more appropriate stress-relief options to do before bedtime.

Avoid eating heavy meals before you go to sleep. The food will just sit in your stomach, and cause you to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Also, spicy foods and hot beverages increase perspiration while making night sweats more likely.

Hormone Replacement Therapy, Estrogen and Foods for Menopause

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and increasing your intake of estrogenic foods helps replace lost estrogen, which can help combat night sweats due to menopause. Foods that naturally contain estrogen and help with low estrogen symptoms include:

• alfalfa
• apples
• barley
• beets
• carrots
• dairy
• eggs
• olives and olive oil
• oats
• tomatoes
• pomegranates
• potatoes
• yams

Universal Precautions for Night Sweats In Women

Do not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes before bedtime. These stimulants raise your body’s pulse rate and body temperature, increasing the chance of sweating while you sleep.

In addition to the above mentioned lifestyle changes, keep your bedroom cool, wear lightweight, loose fitting clothes, and use thin covers to reduce sweating at night.

For a more specific discussion on treating your night sweating, please visit my comprehensive guide: Night Sweats Treatment

Night sweats in women that are recurrent or accompanied by a fever, pain, or discomfort should not be shunned. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to a doctor immediately. Your physician can evaluate your medical history, do an examination, and run tests to rule out serious problems.