Is It Normal To Sweat While You Sleep?

Sweat is the body’s natural cooling mechanism and is usually activated in hot weather or while exercising. However, there is a time and a place for it. Sweating while you sleep can be uncomfortable and, at the same time, alarming.

While there can be many reasons for sweating at night, learning to recognize the symptoms and causes will help you understand this condition. So is it normal to sweat while you sleep? We will analyze the causes of this phenomenon below.

Why do I sweat when I sleep?

Nobody likes waking up in a puddle of sweat in the middle of the night. In order to find out the possible cause of night sweats, it is important to consider all the variables that influence this.

The first and most obvious thing to consider is the temperature and general comfort of the environment. Heat is not the only environmental factor that can cause night sweats; humidity can also play a significant role.

Other possible contributors to night sweats can include heavy blankets or pajamas, a general malaise caused by an old mattress, or a noisy environment.

The next issue to consider is your overall health. Have you changed your diet? Have you felt fatigued? Some symptoms of the flu include fever, which is a normal response to infection.

Night sweats can be the result of a fever if symptoms of the cold or the flu itself are noticed in one or two nights. However, beyond this, it could be something more serious.

One of the most common causes of night sweats is hot flashes associated with menopause, which result from hormonal changes in the body. A sudden drop in estrogen production can cause confusion in the hypothalamus, causing a woman’s skin temperature to rise by as much as 6 degrees almost instantly.

Even not all men are exempt. Those who are deficient in testosterone or are taking medications that block this hormone may also experience similar effects. Most men will not admit that they are experiencing hot flashes, but androgen deprivation can lead to night sweats. 

What other cause could be causing me to sweat?

1. Medications

Many of the prescription drugs can increase your heart rate and cause the blood vessels in your skin to dilate, which can lead to excessive sweating. Antipyretics or fever-reducing medications are the most common.

When experiencing flu symptoms, many people take aspirin or similar remedies. Although these are often effective in reducing fever, they can also cause night sweats. Similarly, other medications that can cause night sweats are antidepressants.

2. Health problems

Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS, are also known to cause night sweats. A persistent fever, which is often accompanied by night sweats, is common among people who have tested positive for HIV.

On the other hand, Hodgkin’s disease, a type of lymphoma, is another infectious disease that often causes fever and night sweats in patients.

3. Unhealthy eating habits

Alcohol abuse at night is also to blame for some people sweating in their sleep. Although a glass of wine before bed can help you fall asleep, when it is induced by alcohol its effects are less restorative; these people are more prone to headaches and night sweats.

Another possible factor that could cause night sweats is spicy food. Although it may not give you immediate discomfort while eating, it is possible that your skin temperature increases when you digest these foods.

On the other hand, doctors have also identified that too much  caffeine can exacerbate sweating in people who already sweat excessively naturally.

4. Hyperhidrosis

Some people have a condition called hyperhidrosis, which causes frequent and excessive sweating during the day and at night. If you’ve ruled out all other possible causes of night sweats, you may be suffering from hyperhidrosis; you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss it.

Natural solutions for night sweats

The first and most obvious is to find the thermostat. Although most doctors recommend a temperature between 18 and 22 ° C for sleep, each person is different; you must experiment to find out what is best for you.

If you sleep with your partner and he or she prefers a warmer or cooler temperature, try using several light layers of bedding.

Likewise, eliminating the likely causes of stress and anxiety is also a good idea. Nervousness, anxiety and sweating are common causes that can make us sweat.

For the above reason, if you are getting married or have a job interview, hopefully you will sweat a little more than usual. However, if the night sweats continue for several weeks after the big day, you should probably see a doctor.

Both men and women with excessive sweating from menopause or andropause can take black cohosh tea or black cohosh supplements. Black cohosh is a native plant found in many parts of North America; It has been used to cure various ailments.

Red clover is another medicinal herb that is taken to relieve the severity of hot flashes and night sweats.  However, its effects have not obtained as strong results as those of black cohosh .

With all this, you may have already got an idea of ​​why you sweat at night. Remember, if you make changes and nothing works, you should see a doctor to rule out more serious problems.