Do You Want To Know Why You Get Night Sweats?

POSTED ON April 22, 2016 BY Janet Early

Written by: Janet Early

Do you wake up with a damp neck or moist chest? Are you not a common “sweater” during the day, but frequently sweat when you sleep?

There are several conditions that can cause this nighttime dampness. Generally, if you sweat while you sleep, your body’s sending you a gentle sign that something’s up.

Common Causes Of Night Sweats:

Minor:

Using heavy blankets or wearing too much clothing at night
Ingesting spicy foods or hot drinks at night
Exercising before bedtime
Overtraining in the gym, which can condition you to sweat at lower temperatures

Moderate:

Use of medications, especially antidepressants, hormone therapy treatments or hypoglycemic agents (like insulin or oral anti-diabetics)
Anxiety and stress
Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis (A.K.A. chronic sweating)
Hypoglycemia
Menopause
Internal inflammatory responses to infection or disease
Panic disorders
Hormone disorders

Rare, But Serious:

Diseases related to the heart, endocrine system, gastrointestinal or autoimmune system
HIV, tuberculosis, cancer

Why The Sweat, Though?

When your core temperature rises above the thermoneutral zone – your physical temperature tolerance range – your body sweats in order to lower its temp. Essentially, your body’s on a constant mission to balance your basal rate of heat production with the temperature of your environment to keep you comfortable and your body functioning optimally.

Your thermoneutral zone range is based on factors such as body composition, age, gender and level of activity. If you are sweating at night, it means something has revved your core temperature above this zone and your body’s doing its best to cool you off.

What Should You Do If You Keep Getting Night Sweats?

First, try eliminating the more fixable potential causes like cuddling under too warm of a blanket or getting over a cold or flu-like illness. If the night sweats persist, you should see your doctor to better identify the underlying cause.

Chances are, the cause of your night sweats is something minor, as night sweats are incredibly common. However, like stated above, they can be signs of a more serious illness. Just make sure you act on it – minor or major, it is always important to listen to your body when it has something to say!

Do you get or have successfully helped night sweats? Please share your experiences with us in the comments below!

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Janet Early

Janet Early is a health enthusiast living in Los Angeles and working as a researcher for a major television company. An aspiring writer, Janet discovered her passion for wholesome nutrition and natural healing while navigating the struggles of balancing food sensitivities in a modern world. In addition to nutrition, she enjoys traveling, storytelling and embarking on daily adventures.