Night sweats or night sweats can have a disease value, but do not have to. Menopause, high blood pressure, diabetes or acute colds can cause night sweats, as can a hereditary predisposition, stress or an overheated bedroom. Whether night sweats indicate a disease must be clarified in each individual case.
What is night sweats?
Menopause, high blood pressure, diabetes or acute colds can cause night sweats, as can a hereditary predisposition, stress or an overheated bedroom. Night sweats or night sweats are either acute hot flashes or waking up every night soaking wet and drenched in sweat. Both can have natural causes. However, unusual night sweats or excessive night sweats can also be due to hormones, a disturbed metabolism, certain medications or diseases. Night sweats themselves should be distinguished from normal nocturnal perspiration or daily sweating. It is characterized only by its quantity at night.
Causes
The causes of night sweats are usually harmless. Night sweating is quite normal. The body cools down in summer as well as in winter by night sweating. However, it is also a fact that excessive night sweats or night sweats are annoying in the case of acute illnesses. Increased night sweats or night sweats can occur as a result of various medications. In particular, antidepressants, neuroleptics, antipyretics, diabetes medications or asthma medications can lead to increased night sweats. Night sweats can also be hormonal. Menopause or certain tumors can cause night sweats or night sweats. It is known that acute colds, flu and tuberculosis lead to night sweats. This is due to increased work of the immune system or fever episodes. Inflammation can also affect night sweats and night sweats. Rheumatic or infectious endocarditis inevitably entail night sweats or night sweats. Malaria and tuberculosis, as well as HIV infection, are also known to cause night sweats.
Diseases with this symptom
- Diabetes mellitus
- Heart attack
- HIV infection
- Pfeiffer’s glandular fever
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Influenza
- Common cold
- Malaria
- Hyperthyroidism
- Collagenosis
- Menopause
- Tuberculosis
- Hypertension
- Anxiety disorder
- Vasculitis
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis and course in night sweats or night sweats always depend on the root cause. If this has no disease value, one can regulate the course only by thinner bedspreads, a low set heating temperature or airier bed clothes. Diagnostic clarification is advisable above all in the case of fever, acute inflammatory processes with further symptoms and sudden night sweats. If the night sweats and sudden sweating cannot be explained, the patient should see a doctor. He will be able to determine in the overall anamnesis what causes the night sweats. The further course of night sweats and night sweats then depends on the treatment of the underlying disease. Depending on the underlying disease present, treatment for night sweats belongs in the hands of a specialist in internal medicine, hormonal or metabolic diseases, nervous diseases or a hematologist or oncologist.
Complications
Night sweats do not always have harmless causes. A wide variety of diseases can hide behind the symptom, which require independent treatment. Direct complications can arise from possible dehydration and nutrient deficiency as a result of night sweats. Common colds and cardiovascular disease may also occur during the course of the condition. If left untreated, pneumonia or even a heart attack can occur in rare cases. If the night sweats occur as a result of tetanus or mushroom poisoning, the patient may experience heart palpitations, nausea and vomiting and, in the further course, blood poisoning and death.If the cause is appendicitis, there is a risk of appendicitis rupturing, accompanied by chills, severe nausea and pain in the stomach area. In the vast majority of cases, night sweats lead to less serious complications such as mild malaise in the morning and fatigue as a result of restless night sleep. The treatment itself – usually dietary or medicinal measures – usually proceeds without complications. In a few cases, symptoms may worsen until therapy is adjusted to the underlying disease, after which night sweats should subside without long-term consequences. Possible complications should be clarified by a physician.
When should you see a doctor?
Night sweats are usually harmless and can be relieved by simple measures. However, if the symptoms persist or even increase in the course, a doctor should be consulted. There may be a serious underlying condition that needs to be clarified and treated. If dry mouth, sore throat and cough accompany the symptoms, this indicates a serious cause that requires medical clarification. Hormonal problems are often related to a disorder of the thyroid gland, which must be treated immediately. Rarely, night sweats are also due to a tumor, which should also be diagnosed and removed as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. Night sweats associated with intense dreaming or restless sleep indicate emotional stress that should be worked through with a therapist. Alcoholics suffering from intense night sweats should also see a doctor to diagnose the addiction and prevent further organ damage. For infants, children, and people with immune deficiency or cardiovascular disease, night sweats should always be evaluated by a primary care physician.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of night sweats must be based on the causes. If sleeping conditions are the trigger for night sweats, they must be improved. Diet and drinking habits can also lead to night sweats. Here, one must target hot spices and alcohol. If medications or infectious diseases, viruses or hormones lead to night sweats, treatment can be medications. If thyroid function is disturbed, one must also balance it with medication. Night sweats as a result of menopause can also be alleviated. In the case of night sweats as a result of autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, rheumatic diseases, certain vascular inflammations or cancer, various therapies are useful. Medications and surgery may become necessary. If the psyche is responsible for night sweats, relaxation therapies and anti-stress training help. In the case of idiopathic night sweats, the cause is unclear. In this case, it is difficult to combat night sweats because the sweat glands are too active. Night sweats in such cases can only be countered with measures that are general in nature.
Prevention
Prevention against too much night sweating can be achieved by better temperature control in the sleeping room. Synthetic materials promote night sweats. Especially during menopause, one should only use clothing and bedding that do not contain synthetic fibers. Since one easily catches a cold with excessive night sweats, an ideal body temperature should be aimed for. Overheated rooms are just as dangerous as rooms that are too cool. The general lifestyle should be healthy. One can certainly prevent night sweats with a diet rich in vital substances, good stress management and a balanced life. It is important to prevent night sweats as a result of colds and infections through hardening and immune training. Many conditions that promote night sweats can be prevented in advance.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Night sweats do not always require medical treatment. Various home remedies and measures can alleviate night sweats and support medical therapy. It often already helps to adjust the temperature in the bedroom – between 17 and 19 degrees is ideal – and to wear light clothing made of natural materials such as cotton or linen when sleeping. Before going to bed, relaxation helps, for example by reading a good book, listening to soothing music or taking a hot bath with sage, lavender or chamomile.During the day, the risk of night sweats can be reduced by sufficient exercise in the fresh air and a generally balanced daily routine. In addition, sufficient fluids should be consumed throughout the day – anyone who is ill should clarify the recommended quantities with their family doctor beforehand. Avoiding spicy or fatty foods can also reduce night sweats. Drinks containing caffeine and alcohol should be avoided. Night sweats resulting from nicotine or alcohol withdrawal can be alleviated by relaxation and usually disappear on their own after a few nights. Those who are regularly affected by night sweats, against which mentioned measures do not help, should seek medical advice.
