Night Sweats In Men
by Joan
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
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
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?
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
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.