Is Night Sweating Normal?

The consumption of certain drugs can lead to an increased heart rhythm and widen blood vessels. One consequence of this can be increased perspiration.

The function of sweating is to regulate body temperature. It usually happens when it’s hot or when you are exercising. However, night sweats can be very uncomfortable and at the same time alarming.

There are several causes of night sweats , and it is important to understand the symptoms and triggers.

Why do I sweat at night?

Waking up drenched in sweat at night is not fun for anyone. In order to find out possible causes, various aspects should be considered.

It is obvious that the  first thing to check is the temperature and general comfort of the sleeping environment.

Not only can heat cause night sweats, moisture also plays a major role. Heavy blankets or thick pajamas, an old mattress, or noise can also affect sleep.

General health must also be considered. Have you changed your diet? Do you often feel tired? Do you have flu symptoms or a fever?

Night sweats can be triggered by a fever, cold, or the flu, but  if it doesn’t, it can also be a more serious problem.

One of the most common causes is hot flashes, which occur during menopause due to hormone fluctuations.

Suddenly less estrogen is produced, it can cause confusion in the hypothalamus and cause the temperature of the skin to increase almost immediately by up to 6 degrees.

Not all men escape this symptom either. Some men who are testosterone deficient or taking drugs that block testosterone may experience similar symptoms.

Most men will not admit this, but an androgen deficiency can lead to night sweats.

Are there other causes of night sweats?

Many drugs can speed up the heart rhythm and cause the blood vessels to widen. This can also cause increased sweating. Feverish remedies, for example, belong to this group.

Many people take aspirin or other medication when they have flu symptoms . Although this can reduce fever, it can result in night sweats. Other drugs, such as antidepressants, can also make you sweat more intensely.

Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or AIDS can also result in night sweats. People with HIV very often experience night sweats. Hodgkin’s lymphoma also often causes night sweats.

Drinking alcohol at night can also cause some people to sweat.

A glass of wine before going to sleep can help you fall asleep, but various studies have shown that sleep induced by alcohol is not nearly as restful and often causes headaches and increased night sweats.

Another trigger can be spicy foods.

Even if the symptoms do not occur immediately after eating these foods, the skin temperature can rise during digestion. Caffeine can also exacerbate the problem in people who are already sweating heavily.

People with hyperhydrosis also experience sweating, both day and night. If you do not have any of the aforementioned causes, it is possible that you have hyperhydrosis.

In this case, you should definitely speak to your doctor and get a diagnosis.

Natural remedies for night sweats

First you should check the room temperature, it is recommended to sleep between 18 and 22 degrees. Every person is different, so you should try for yourself which temperature is best for you.

If you sleep with a partner who prefers to be warmer or colder, try  using several light blankets to solve the problem. 

If you are experiencing stress or anxiety, try to do something about it. Nervousness and anxiety are common causes of increased sweating, both during the day and at night.

If you’re nervous about an important event coming your way the next day (when you’re getting married or having an interview), it is very normal to sweat during the night. 

But if the problems persist for several weeks, you should definitely see a doctor for an examination.

Men who are in andropause (male menopause) and sweat at night can take black cohosh as a dietary supplement.

This is a medicinal plant that was traditionally used by the Native Americans to cure various ailments and is found in many regions of North America.

Red clover is also a medicinal plant that works very well with hot flushes and night sweats,  but studies have shown that it does not work as well as black cohosh.

Both men and women can use herbal remedies such as sage tea or pendulum tea (also called lion’s tail) to treat night sweats.

Sage tea is also used to relax and relieve stress. Heart tension herb (from the mint family) calms the nerves and improves blood circulation, which can also be used to reduce night sweats.