Menopause night sweats are exactly what they sound like: excessive sweating in the night as a result of menopause hot flashes when you’re asleep and can’t do anything about those night sweats. They are the most well-known cause of night sweats in women. While I know some women who celebrate the natural passing of their menstrual cycle, I also know we all must face the consequences of these changes in our bodies, and quite often, they’re just not any fun.
However, when you decide to address causes of excessive sweating, I suggest seeing a medical professional for advice. While your sweating while sleeping is most likely nothing to be too concerned about, it is still a good idea to have your doctor evaluate you to be certain nothing more serious is occurring within your body. Sometimes simply changing your medication regiment can provide you significant relief, and other times an underlying condition may need to be addressed.
Read more about broader night sweats treatment to learn about clever devices such as the chillow, the bed fan and wicking pajamas that serve as great menopause nightgowns or menopause nightwear. My sweating while sleeping article also addresses subtle variables that can make a more than subtle difference, such as your bedding material and environmental conditions that affect your body temperature when you’re sweating at night.
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If you, or someone you know, frequently experience excessive sweating while sleeping, it’s important that you learn more about the causes of this uncomfortable ailment. In this guide we’ll cover the following topics: the different types of night sweats, some possible causes, and when to consult with a physician. By the end of this article you’ll be better prepared to cope with the situation.
Night sweats, or hyperhidrosis, are categorized into two different types, primary and secondary. Secondary hyperhidrosis is a symptom of some other cause. Primary hyperhidrosis happens by itself without any other underlying cause. It’s important to determine which type of excessive sweating while sleeping you are experiencing, since some reasons are not serious, while others are actually very serious.
If you are addressing severe night sweats in children, I encourage you to discuss the matter with your pediatrician right away.
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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.
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. Discovery and treatment of the underlying disease or injury is the only way to cure secondary night sweats. 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.
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There are a few possible causes of cold sweats at night including menopause night sweats, hormonal changes, medical conditions, as well as certain medications. Anxiety, fear or stress can cause cold sweats and cold night sweats, as well as pain from injuries or medical problems (heart attack), severe shortness of breath or low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). Having a nightmare can also cause these types of night sweats.
The reason they are called cold sweats is because the hypothalamus – our body’s internal thermostat — uses perspiration with other biological mechanisms to help cool the body when it feels it is overheated. Because body temperature drops while you are sweating, you may feel chills during or after sweating. Sometimes internal or external variables can confuse the hypothalamus causing it to trigger those biological mechanisms that cause sudden sweating even when it isn’t really necessary.
In most cases cold sweats aren’t caused by a serious medical condition but because they can be a sign of something more serious, even a heart attack, it is important to pay attention to them, and to notice if you are experiencing any other symptoms along with the sweating. If have any concerns consult with your physician or seek medical attention.
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There are many possible causes of night sweats and stress is one of them. The night sweats that result from stress are generally the result of hot flashes brought on by anxiety or possibly a psychological disorder. Night sweats caused by medical disorders are often brought on because of the high level of anxiety associated with the disorder.
Stress is present in many facets of our lives, and it can affect how well we sleep during the night. When your mind is burdened with worry, your adrenal glands produce increased amounts of specific hormones like glucocorticoids to prepare for the anticipated stressful event. An increase in these hormones triggers a “fight or flight” reaction internally, which may lead to night sweats. The kind of night sweats stress induces should be addressed psychologically as well as medically. To find effective help for night sweats caused by stress it is vital to address the stress and find a way to reduce it or better manage it. If you don’t find a way to handle the stress it can create an unhealthy cycle of poor sleep and increased stress.
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