Night sweats, which occur when you awaken to a sweat-soaked body, night clothes and bedding, can rob you of valuable sleep. The cause may be as simple as the temperature of your bedroom or the number of blankets on your bed. Otherwise, it could be due to a medical condition or medications.
Medical Conditions
Menopause--when a middle-aged woman's ovaries stop producing estrogen--may be the most common cause of night sweats. But there are others. Many chemotherapy patients experience them. So do people diagnosed with the following diseases: some kinds of cancer, including leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; overactive thyroid; stroke; tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; autonomic nerve damage; certain bacterial, heart lining or bone infections; rare adrenal gland tumors; and bone marrow disorders.
Medications
Other culprits might be antidepressants, medications that decrease the levels of your blood sugar or adjust your body temperature, and hormone therapies. In fact, 52 percent of breast cancer survivors who take estrogen-hindering medications experience night sweats, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Breast Cancer Research Program on MyBreastCancer.org.
Wear Fabrics that 'Breathe'
Wearing lightweight night clothes made of natural fibers--cotton, linen, bamboo and others--is your first line of defense. When your body temperature rises, synthetic fabrics trap that heat and cause you to sweat. Clothing made from natural fibers "breathe," absorb moisture and dry quickly.
Also try cotton sheets. Blankets made of cotton--even wool--will also allow your excess body heat to escape. Select several lightweight layers instead of one heavy one, so you can remove layers when your body heats up.
More Advice
The market is developing products to ease night sweats. On Menopause.com, the North American Menopause Society discusses new fabrics that absorb sweat from your skin and move it to the surface to evaporate. Nightwear made of this fabric that "wicks" moisture away from your body is available in stores and online.
In the United Kingdom, a fan is now available to mount on the foot of your bed to send breezes under the duvet.
Authors of a website for breast cancer survivors, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, recommend you to avoid spicy foods, keep your bedroom cool, and store a cold pack next to your bed to place on your forehead when you feel a night sweat coming on.
NAMS suggests you place the cold pack under your pillow instead, so you can turn the pillow over during the night to rest your head on a cooler surface. Alternatively, NAMS recommends you put the cold pack on your feet. It also advises you to keep cool water next to your bed to sip during the night.
Seek Medical Attention
Consult your healthcare professional about night sweats if they impair your sleep, happen regularly or cause other unexplained symptoms like weight loss or fever.
Even if your night sweats can be explained by medical conditions or medications, your healthcare provider may be able to help alleviate them with a prescription drug, like serotonin-based antidepressants.
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