Night sweats can be caused by hormonal imbalances, infections, neurological disorders, medications, and idiopathic hyperhidrosis. Seeking medical evaluation is necessary if heavy night sweats occur suddenly. Treatment options vary depending on the underlying cause, and diagnostic tests may be recommended.
Some common causes of night sweats include hormonal imbalances, infections, neurological disorders, and medications. If people abruptly develop heavy night sweats with no history of this problem or with conditions known to cause night sweats, they should seek medical evaluation, as this is sometimes an early symptom of the disease. Treatment options vary depending on the underlying cause, and in some cases, no treatment may be available.
Some patients have what is known as idiopathic hyperhidrosis, which means they sweat a lot for no apparent medical reason. These patients may experience intense night sweats even in a cool bedroom with properly layered sheets. Treatment options may include medications and surgery in cases where excessive sweating becomes a serious personal discomfort or lifestyle hindrance.
Hormonal imbalances, most commonly those associated with menopause, are a very common culprit. Neurological conditions are among the causes of night sweats, as a patient may have poor thermoregulation due to peripheral nerve damage or may have other problems that lead to increased sweating. Infections, of which HIV is a common cause, as well as tuberculosis, are another reason people sweat a lot at night as their bodies fight the infection. Inflammation associated with cancer, especially lymphomas, is another potential cause of night sweats.
Diabetic patients sometimes notice night sweats when they have episodes of low blood sugar, and low blood sugar in otherwise healthy patients or people with other conditions can also cause sweats. In fact, sweating is a warning sign that people are sometimes advised to exercise caution if they have blood sugar issues, as heavy sweating is often the first warning sign of a drop in blood sugar. People with diabetes who notice that they sweat a lot at night may need to adjust their treatment regimen to keep their blood sugar at a safer level, as hypoglycemia is the most likely cause of night sweats to cause their problem.
When a patient goes to the doctor for treatment of night sweats, certain diagnostic tests may be recommended and an interview with the patient will be conducted. In the interview, the doctor gathers information about the patient’s general health and looks for specific warning signs of medical problems that could be causing sweating. Some of the questions asked may not seem directly pertinent to sweating, but they are important nonetheless and should be answered accurately. If patients don’t know the answer, saying “I don’t know” is perfectly acceptable.
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