It has happened to all of us that we wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot and maybe a little sweaty. But the heat of summer and turning off the air conditioning overnight can not be a convincing reason to wake up in sweaty clothes and bedding. This phenomenon, which is associated with nocturnal sweating in medicine, has nothing to do with the heat and condition of your bedroom, and usually has other causes. Menopause or premenopause is the first possible cause of night sweats due to hormonal disorders in the body.
But this is not the only cause of night sweats, and many people have not yet reached menopause, and some men have the problem. In the following, we want to acquaint you with the most important possible causes of this unpleasant anomaly. Be with Dr. Salam.
You may be at risk for cardiovascular problems
A 2014 study found that middle-aged women, who typically experience night sweats, are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. In fact, it has been found that women who are overweight, have high blood pressure, and women with diabetes are more likely than other women to experience night sweats. All of these are directly related to cardiovascular disease, and this is the link between night sweats and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Your body may be fighting an internal infection
When our immune system is fighting a disease or infection, the body temperature rises and this can lead to night sweats. These night sweats may continue for days or weeks after the side effects of the disease are over; So if you have recently had a fever or an infectious disease, experiencing night sweats for a while can be a side effect of your body trying to clear up the effects of the disease.
Bacterial infections such as severe abscesses (including appendicitis, boils, tonsil infections) are all possible causes of night sweats.
Your thyroid may be in trouble.
One of the most common side effects of an overactive thyroid gland is night sweats. Of course, this is not the only hormonal cause of night sweats, and similar problems such as adrenaline deficiency can lead to night sweats.
You may have side effects from your medications
Night sweats are a common side effect of many medications, among which neuroleptics and antidepressants are more effective than others. Also, some hormonal therapies, especially those associated with the treatment of cancer, can cause night sweats in patients. Medications for diabetics can be another possible cause of this problem; Because if the patient’s blood sugar drops sharply during the night, we see night sweats in these people. Arbitrary and excessive use of low-grade and general painkillers such as aspirin and acetaminophen can also cause this problem. In this case, you can change the type of painkiller you use in consultation with your doctor. Also keep in mind that if you always need medication for headaches and fever, you probably have a more serious problem that you should definitely talk to your doctor about.
Your body’s defense system may be at fault
Autoimmune diseases are a new and almost unknown category of diseases in which the body’s immune system begins to attack normal or harmless factors in the body. Many autoimmune diseases have been identified in recent years, and some of these diseases, such as lupus, can cause night sweats.
Related article: Dietary recommendations for lupus
You may need to see a doctor for a cancer check-up
Of course, you should not quickly conclude with your first night sweat that you may have cancer, but it is not bad to know that this problem is one of the side effects of many types of cancer. For example, in people who are suspected of having lymph node cancer, the presence or absence of night sweats can be very important to the treating physician. You may need to see and consult a specialist if you experience symptoms such as abnormal weight loss, extreme tiredness, and severe lymph nodes along with night sweats.
HIV
– Some people with AIDS suffer from night sweats to the point that after waking up all the sheets, pajamas and even the bed are completely wet. In one, the first two weeks after becoming infected with HIV, many people experience flu-like symptoms and suffer from severe night sweats. After this initial period, due to the body’s fight against this external factor, we see the occurrence of various diseases in these patients, which can be referred to shivering as well as skin allergies. So if you think you may be at risk of becoming infected with the HIV virus and have recently experienced symptoms such as the flu or night sweats, it is best to consult a specialist immediately.
Related article: Recognize the 8 causes of night sweats
Compiled and arranged by: Sanaz Motalebi Khameneh
Source: Dr. Salam
