Night Sweats - the Basics

Night sweats - Sweating at night isn't really a sleep disorder, but there's no doubt that waking up with night clothes and bedding soaked with perspiration does disturb your nighttime slumber. This is one of my most popular topics. I receive mail and forum submissions often about it. Let's take a look at the basics.

SYMPTOMS OF NIGHT SWEATS

• Damp and clammy bedding. You wake up to find your bedding soaked. You either feel too hot or clammily cold.

CAUSES OF NIGHT SWEATS

• Menopause or Andropause. Menopause in women is the most common cause of night sweats. However, some men also suffer from night sweats during the male menopause, or andropause.
• HIV, tuberculosis. In fact, any infectious disease or condition that brings on a fever can cause night sweats.
• Diabetes Insipidus. Diabetes insipidus can also cause night sweats.
• Sleep apnea. This is the one that most concerns us. Night sweats can also be a sign of sleep apnea. If you also suffer from severe snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, it might be time for a study.
• Alcohol, some drugs, spicy foods. Consumption of any of these can cause night sweats. And by drugs, I'm not necessarily referring to street drugs. Some prescription drugs, like Zoloft, can also cause night sweats.

METHODS OF DIAGNOSING NIGHT SWEATS

• Personal observation. Do you wake up at night with bedding and nightclothes damp with sweat? Then you have had a night sweat.