How Common Are Night Sweats?

Even though night sweats happen to a lot of people, not everyone talks about it. But one study found that about 41 out of every 100 people have told their doctor they experience night sweats. It seems most common in people between the ages of 41 and 55. That means it’s not rare, and if it’s happening to you, you’re definitely not alone.

Common Causes of Night Sweats

There are many different reasons why someone might sweat a lot during the night. It can be something simple, like your room being too warm, or something more serious, like an illness or a side effect from medicine. Let’s go over the most common causes so you can figure out what might be happening in your case and what to do about it.

Conditions

Stress & Anxiety

When you’re stressed or worried a lot, your body can react in different ways—even when you’re asleep. One way your body might respond is by sweating during the night. If you have panic attacks or deal with a lot of anxiety, you might notice you wake up sweaty sometimes. This is your body’s way of trying to deal with stress and pressure.

Obesity

Being overweight can also cause night sweats. Extra body fat can make it harder for your body to cool down while you’re asleep. If you think your weight might be part of the problem, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor. They can help you find a healthy and safe way to manage your weight, which might help reduce night sweats too.

Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis

Sweating is a normal way your body stays cool. But if you sweat way more than your body needs to, it might be something called hyperhidrosis. When doctors don’t know the exact reason for it, they call it idiopathic hyperhidrosis. This usually happens in specific places like your hands, feet, or underarms. But sometimes it can affect your whole body and happen at night. About 15 million people in the U.S. have this condition.

Medications

Antidepressants

Some people who take antidepressant medicines (like SSRIs) notice that they sweat more, especially at night. These medicines can change how your body controls its temperature. Around 22 out of every 100 people who take these types of medications experience extra sweating. So if you’re taking antidepressants and sweating at night, the medicine might be part of the reason.

Migraine Medicine & Pain Relievers

Some medicines used to treat headaches, like triptans, can also cause sweating. They affect your body’s temperature control in a similar way as antidepressants. Also, medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen can make you sweat more because they open up your blood vessels to release heat. Painkillers like morphine can also cause sweating by affecting chemicals in your body that deal with inflammation.

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

If your blood sugar drops too low, it can cause sweating—even at night. People who have diabetes and take medicine to lower blood sugar, like insulin or glipizide, might notice this. If you feel sweaty, dizzy, sleepy, or shaky, it’s a good idea to check your blood sugar levels to make sure everything is okay.

Hormonal Changes

Menopause

Menopause is when a woman’s body goes through big hormone changes, usually around age 50. One common symptom is hot flashes, which can happen during the day or at night. When they happen at night, they often cause night sweats. The good news is that these symptoms usually go away once menopause is over.

Low Testosterone

In men, the hormone testosterone helps with things like muscle strength and energy. As men get older, testosterone levels can drop, and that might cause night sweats. If a man sweats a lot during the night and feels tired or weak, low testosterone could be the reason.

Hormone Disorders

Your body uses hormones to control things like temperature, energy, and how you feel. If you have a hormone problem, like hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid makes too much hormone), your body might heat up too much and cause sweating. People who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might also get night sweats because their hormone levels are changing.

Illness

Infection or Virus

Sometimes your body sweats at night when it’s fighting off an infection, like the flu or even something more serious. Tuberculosis is one infection that’s known to cause night sweats. Even if you’re getting over a small cold, your body might still be running a low fever that causes sweating while you sleep. This is usually normal and not something to worry about unless it lasts a long time.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is when your breathing stops and starts during the night. This can make your heart race and cause sweating. A study showed that people with untreated sleep apnea are three times more likely to have night sweats. If you snore loudly or wake up tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might want to ask a doctor if you have sleep apnea.

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system attacks your body by mistake. Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis can all cause night sweats. These diseases are hard to diagnose because their symptoms are similar to many other things, so it’s important to talk to a doctor if you think something more serious might be going on.

Cancer

Sometimes, night sweats can be an early warning sign of certain cancers, like lymphoma. People going through cancer treatment or those who have had cancer in the past might also sweat more at night. If your night sweats come with other signs like weight loss or tiredness, it’s best to get checked by a doctor.

Heart Disease

Researchers have found that women who have strong night sweats and hot flashes after menopause might have a higher risk of heart disease. The risk depends more on how bad the hot flashes and sweats are—not just how often they happen. So if you’re sweating a lot and you’re past menopause, it’s worth talking to a doctor about your heart health too.

Night Sweats in Men vs. Women

Women are more likely to get night sweats than men. That’s because women’s hormones change more during things like menopause, pregnancy, or before their period. These changes affect how the body controls temperature, so it’s easier to get too hot and start sweating. But men can get night sweats too, especially if they have low testosterone. In fact, about 38 percent of men over 45 have low testosterone, which could be the cause.

Home Solutions to Night Sweats

Bedding

Some types of bedding are better for people who sweat at night. Linen sheets, for example, are great at keeping you cool and pulling sweat away from your skin. They work in both hot and cold weather. Many people who deal with night sweats say that switching to linen sheets helped them sleep much more comfortably.

Cooling Remedies

Try keeping your bedroom cool by leaving a window open or using a fan. You can also keep cold things like a glass of ice water, an ice pack, or a damp washcloth near your bed to help cool down if you wake up sweating. These small changes can really help you sleep better.

Breathable Clothing

Wearing heavy or tight clothes to bed can make you sweat more. Instead, wear loose clothes made of light and breathable materials like cotton, linen, silk, or rayon. These fabrics let your skin breathe and help you stay cool.

Adjust Exercise Timing

Exercising too close to bedtime can make you sweat more at night. That’s because exercise raises your body temperature, and it can take a while for it to cool back down. Try exercising earlier in the day to see if that helps reduce your night sweats.

Avoid Triggering Substances

Spicy Foods

Eating spicy or sugary foods might make you sweat more. Studies show that people who eat more of these types of foods tend to have more night sweats. Cutting back on them might help.

Cigarettes

Smoking is known to cause a lot of health problems, and one of them might be night sweats. Smokers often experience more hot flashes and sweating at night, so quitting smoking could make a big difference.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can also lead to night sweats. If you notice sweating after drinking, it might be a good idea to cut back. If you need help quitting alcohol, you can contact organizations like the American Addiction Centers.

Relaxation & Meditation

Learning how to relax your body and mind can help lower your chances of sweating at night. Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or body scans (where you focus on how each part of your body feels) have been shown to reduce night sweats. Doing this regularly can help you feel calmer and sleep better.

Professional Solutions

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

CBT is a type of therapy that helps change the way you think about problems. It’s been shown to help people who suffer from night sweats and hot flashes. One study showed that after just six weeks of CBT, many people had fewer night sweats. It helps by making people feel more in control and less stressed.

Medications & Hormone Therapies

If home remedies don’t work, there are medical options. Your doctor might suggest medication or hormone treatments to help stop night sweats. These should always be used under a doctor’s care to make sure they are safe and effective for you.

When Should I Be Worried About Night Sweats?

Frequency

If night sweats happen often and don’t seem to stop, you should talk to a doctor. It might be something minor, but it’s good to get checked just in case.

Interfering With Sleep and Aspects of Daily Life

If night sweats are keeping you from sleeping or making your days harder, that’s a sign it’s time to get help. Sleep is very important for your health and happiness.

Appears Alongside Other Symptoms

If you start sweating at night and also notice other problems like a fever, dizziness, cough, or no appetite, that might mean something more serious is going on. Write down your symptoms and talk to a doctor.

Unexplained Weight Loss

If you’re losing weight and sweating at night but don’t know why, you should get checked by a doctor. Sometimes these two symptoms happen together when there’s an underlying illness.

Night Sweats vs. Hot Flashes

Night sweats happen when you sweat too much during sleep. Hot flashes are short bursts of heat that usually make your face, neck, or chest feel really warm. You might blush or get sweaty. The two are often linked, especially during menopause, but they can also happen separately. Hot flashes can lead to night sweats, but night sweats can also happen because of other problems like infections or hormone imbalances.

Frequently Asked Questions About Night Sweats

Does COVID cause night sweats?
Yes, some people who had COVID or are recovering from it have experienced night sweats as a symptom.

Are night sweats a symptom of pregnancy?
Yes, hormone changes during pregnancy can lead to night sweats.

Can cannabis use cause night sweats?
Yes, using cannabis can sometimes affect your body temperature and lead to sweating at night.