Understanding The Reason For Night Sweats

Waking up in the middle of the night with the sheets soaked and the body covered in perspiration is not something anyone wants to endure. Unfortunately, this is exactly what many people suffer through on a fairly regular basis. When this happens, sleep patterns can become disrupted, which in turn can create a whole downward spiral of other issues. Discovering the reason for night sweats can be the key to helping prevent this from happening.

While the reason for night sweats in women is often attributed to the hormonal changes of menopause and hot flashes themselves, there are many other potential causes for them. The reason for night sweats can be as simple as having a blanket on the bed that is too heavy or wearing clothes to sleep that are too warm and confining. Night sweats, however, can also go along with some serious medical conditions, some medications and more. In fact, there are more than 50 different conditions that list night sweats as potential symptoms.

If night sweats are a continuing problem, it is smart to try and get to the bottom of their cause. Some of the top reasons night sweats happen include:

· Menopause and andropause. The hormonal changes that take place in women and even men can be at the root of night sweats in some cases. If no other factors are involved that might be to blame, it is quite likely night sweats are coming from the hormonal flux. If women experience hot flashes during the day on an intermittent basis, this is a fairly good sign as to the origin of the night sweats.

· Environmental factors. The reason for night sweats can turn out to be something in a person's environment. The room might be kept too warm during the evening or the blanket might be too plush and thick. It's also possible that clothing is too high or too tight. Consider turning the temperature down a bit and removing some bedding if this is thought to be the case.

· Diet, habits, exercise. Night sweats can also be caused by eating hot or spicy foods before bedtime. They can also be caused by alcohol consumption or even drinking hot drinks before turning in. Habits such as excessive caffeine intake or even smoking might also be to blame. A lack of exercise, too, can sometime be the cause.

· Infection. If fever and infection are present, these alone are often enough to cause night sweats. The night sweats will generally subside when the condition is remedied.

· Cancer. Some forms of cancer, such as leukemia, can be the reason for night sweats.

· Medications. Some prescription medications have night sweats and even hot flashes as potential side effects. Drugs such as Zoloft are known to produce hot flashes and night sweats.

· Disease. Beyond cancer, some diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV and more can be the blame for night sweats.

With everything from menopause and the common cold to cancer and medication side effects all being potential causes for night sweats, it's often wise to consider medical help if symptoms persist. Finding the root cause can lead to a potential cure for night sweats.

There are things people can try if night sweats are a concern and a benign cause is suspected. These include lowering room temperature, drinking something cold before bed, adding exercise to their daily routine and even quitting smoking.

The reason for night sweats has many different possibilities. What causes them in one person might not be the blame in another. In women, menopause is often the blame, but it's not a bad idea to rule out other potential causes before blaming this phase of life.