Do you feel very hot in the night and find sweat dripping off your face and body? Do you often wonder whether it is something serious? The following story walks you through all the possible reasons behind sweating at night and some effective treatment options.
Mild sweating or perspiration in sleep is normal, if it is because of the hot environment in the room. However, if the person is experiencing excessive sweating at night, i.e., his night clothes and bedding get wet due to sweat, and it is unrelated to external factors, such as, hot weather or heavy clothing, know that it is not normal. Let's find out the reasons behind this condition by looking at the causes.
Causes
Side Effects of a Medicine
Perspiration could be due to certain medicines, which the person is taking. A Crocin, for example, when used to bring down the temperature of the body, in case of fever, cause a lot of sweating. Certain psychiatry medicines are also known to cause perspiration.
Medicines, such as cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and are used in conditions, like arthritis and asthma, are also known to cause sweats during sleeping.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance in the body can lead to this condition. Women above the age of 40, who are going through menopause, often experience this health problem. Perspiration is often accompanied by hot flashes and general discomfort during menopause. Certain hormonal disorders, such as hyperthyroidism also cause sweats in women while sleeping. Hyperthyroidism can lead to this condition even in children.
Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis
In this condition, the nervous system tells the body to produce excessive sweat. The sweat production is to such an extent that the person experiencing it, has sweat literally dropping off his body.
Symptom of a Disease
Excess perspiration during the nighttime can occur if a person has an undiagnosed tumor or cancer. A person who has lymphoma, a type of cancer, often experiences excessive sweating at night as one of the earliest symptoms. It can also be a symptom of certain bacterial or viral infections occurring in the body.
If it is accompanied by symptoms, such as, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and short breaths, then heart disease could be a possible reason. Patients with HIV infection are known to suffer from excessive sweating.
Diminished Glucose Levels
The condition hypoglycemia is characterized by low levels of glucose in blood. Excess sweating while sleeping is a symptom of hypoglycemia. People suffering from diabetes who are prescribed diabetic medicines or insulin, often suffer from this condition. Children and infants who experience night sweats along with excessive urination and weight loss, could be suffering from diabetes.
Neurological Conditions
A person suffering from depression and anxiety may experience perspiration along with other symptoms. Night sweats in men are especially caused due to anxiety. Certain neurological conditions such as autonomic neuropathy, dysreflexia, and post-traumatic syringomyelia might cause sweats while sleeping.
Treatment
If the sweating is due to environmental conditions, wear loose, cotton clothes while sleeping. Avoid spicy and fatty foods for dinner. Washing the face with water or having a shower before bedtime can provide relief too. You may also consult a doctor, who most probably, will recommend application of antiperspirants regularly. Another treatment for excessive sweating is, iontophoresis therapy, and if the condition becomes severe, a surgery might be required.
Mild sweating is easily treatable at home. However, excessive sweat, if accompanied by other symptoms, such as, weight loss, change in the heart rate, chest pain, etc., should not be ignored, as there could be an underlying medical condition.