Many people associate night sweats in women with menopause. However, night sweats in young women is not an uncommon phenomenon. If you’re not experiencing menopause night sweats, then what is causing your night time discomfort? In this guide we’ll take a look at some of the more common causes for night sweats in women under 30.
Common Causes for Night Sweats
Before we delve into the medical conditions that can cause night sweats, it is important to note that many times there is no identifiable cause for them. While sweating while sleeping can be a mark of a serious condition, it can also be the result of environmental factors like the wrong pajamas or not having the right kind of bedding. If you suspect this may be the case in your situation, I suggest reading my guides on night sweats sleepwear and night sweats bedding. Because these wicking pajamas are often associated with menopause, you may not realize the sleek and flattering nightwear available from companies like NiteSweatz.
That said, if sweating at night is causing you discomfort you should certainly seek the advice of a physician since this can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Young, post adolescent women generally shouldn’t experience sleep hyperhidrosis the way women approaching menopause do, so if you are under 30 and experiencing night sweats you should look closely at this list of night sweats causes. You may also want to look at the article on Night Sweats in Women Under 40 as there are some overlapping causes:
- Infections – While the most common disease associated with night sweating is tuberculosis, infections can also be the cause. Infections can be caused by an abscess, a bad cold, the flu or something more serious. Infection of the heart valves (endocarditis) or inflammation of the bones (osteomyelitis) can cause night sweats as well.
- Medications – This is one of the more common reasons for sweating at night. If you’ve started a new medication and have since noticed an increase in your night time sweating, it may be because of the new prescription. Drugs that commonly cause night sweats include: niacin, antidepressants, Viagra, nitroglycerine, tamoxifen and hydralazine. Cortisone and prednisone may also contribute to night sweating. If you’re taking any of the listed medications, talk to your doctor about your concerns.
- Low Blood Sugar – Hypoglycemia can cause excessive perspiration and if you experience low blood sugar in the middle of the night it can cause sleep hyperhidrosis. Anti-diabetic medications that lower blood sugar can also contribute.
- Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis – This is basically a fancy way of saying excessive perspiration without any known cause. When referring specifically to night sweats, you may see this referred to as sleep hyperhidrosis. Unfortunately many people fall into this category. If your doctor does an examination and cannot find any identifiable medical reason your best bet is to try to solve the problem by adjusting your sleeping environment and your diet. See my night sweats treatment and night sweats relief articles for some cool tips for curbing this uncomfortable symptom.
Hormone Disorders and Night Sweats In Young Women
Beyond sweating related to diseases, medications and blood sugar issues, the most common causes of night sweats in young women are related to fluctuations in a woman’s hormones. From puberty to pregnancy, hormones have a way of confusing the hypothalamus (a gland in your brain that acts as your internal thermostat).
Puberty is a common time for people to experience night sweating as the hormones are unsteady and as so many changes are happening in the body. This can be exacerbated in young women who have very low body fat and thos who participate in extreme exercising. This combination can trigger low estrogen levels and in turn low estrogen symptoms.
Pregnancy also causes night sweats in young women. Pregnancy can cause sweating at night and during the day because of the fluctuation of hormones during this time. Postpartum night sweats often continue even for a little while after delivery until the body gets back to normal.
Additionally, however, there are some specific hormone disorders unrelated to puberty or pregnancy that may contribute to cases of severe night sweats in women under 30.
Hyperthyroidism, premature ovarian failure, Turner syndrome, Addison’s Disease and pheochromocytoma can all cause excessive sweating or increased body temperature. Your doctor can order tests to determine whether or not you suffer from any of these hormone problems.
You can read more about some of these issues in this article: Low Estrogen Symptoms.
Treatments for Night Sweats In Women Under 30
Some treatments aren’t radically different than those suggested for night sweats in men under 30. If your doctor can’t identify any medical reason for your night sweat, there are a few things you can do to make yourself more comfortable:
- Adjust the temperature of your room at night. People generally sleep best in a room that is slightly cool. Try setting your evening thermostat to 66-68 degrees and see if your night sweats improve.
- Good ventilation. A stuffy room traps heat and can contribute to sweating while asleep. A ceiling fan on low or a window left open a crack can help improve air circulation.
- Natural fibers. Select breathable material for your pajamas and your bedding. Cotton and linen work well for wicking away moisture and allowing heat to escape. Avoid man-made materials like polyester that can trap both heat and moisture near your body, unless they are specifically designed to wick moisture away from your body.
If you’re not proactive in treating this situation, you may experience a domino effect of problems in your life resulting from a lack of good, restful sleep. So please consider looking my these three guides for some help on treating your night sweats:
Night sweats in women under 30 or young women is not uncommon, despite the occasional assumption that when you talk about women and night sweating, you’re talking about menopause night sweats. Nor is it uncommon for young males to experience male night sweats. For some, the cause is genetic or of unknown origin. For others, there may be an underlying medical condition. Seek the advice of your physician to rule out any serious medical problems, then regardless of the origin, take steps to provide yourself a more comfortable night’s rest.