CAUSES OF NIGHT SWEATS

Night sweats

This refers to excessive perspiration which occurs during the night. Notwithstanding, you may perspire during sleep as a result of hot bedroom or many bedclothes--- this is not unusual. There exist difference differences between night perspiration due to medical causes and sweats due to ones hot surroundings. Night sweating is fairly common.

The person sweats excessively in the night which may soak the bedclothes and sheets in a severe case. At times flushing (warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may be difficult to distinguish from true night sweat or it may occur with night sweat. Many other symptoms can also be associated with sweating. For example, fever and chills may accompany night sweats.

Causes of night sweats.

Night sweat can be caused by harmless situations or diseases. A hot bedroom or a bed with too many bed sheets may cause you to sweat. This is normal. Some of the conditions that can cause night sweat include:

Menopause. This is a common cause of night sweats in most women who are close to or at menopause.

Idiopathic hyperhidrosis. This is condition whereby the produces excessive sweats in a chronic manner without any identified medical cause.

Infections. Tuberculosis is a major infection that can cause night sweats. Bacterial infections like endocarditis- inflammation of the heart valve; abscesses; osteomyelitis- bone inflammations may cause night sweats. HIV infection (AIDS virus) can also cause night sweats.

Cancers. Night perspiration are signs of cancers. Lymphoma is the most common type of cancer that causes night perspiration.

Certain medications. There are some drugs that causes night sweats. These medications include antidepressant medications and psychiatric drugs. Side effects of all types antidepressant causes night sweats in about 8-25% of people that take antidepressant drugs. Some psychiatric drugs also causes night sweats. Some medicines taken to reduce fever, such as aspirin andacetaminophine may at times cause night sweating. There are other types of drugs such as niacin, tamoxifen, hydralazine, nitroglycerine and sildenafil or Viagra can cause flushing which is occasionally mistaken for sweating. Other drugs which can be associated with night sweats or flushing include: prednisone and andprednisolone.

Hypoglycemia. At times low blood glucose can be the source of sweating. People that take anti-diabetic drugs or insulin may have hypoglycemia which causes night sweating.

Hormone disorders. These conditions include: pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism are associated with sweating or flushing.

Neurologic conditions: these include: autonomic dysreflexia, post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke and autonomic neuropathy also causes increased perspiration and leading to night sweat.

High cholesterol level and Obesity. These conditions can also lead to night sweat.

Treatment,

The underlying conditions that causes night sweating should not neglected. They supposed to be where treatment should be directed to. For examples: cancers, infections and hormonal disorders are included among the underlying causes of night sweat.

Sweating as a result of menopause should be treated with hormonal therapy. When sweating becomes so troubling and severe, estrogen therapy (ET) or combination of ET and progestin therapy are best used in treating it in perimenopausal women.

Night sweats as a result of side effects from drugs may be abated once the drug is discontinued or changed. If you are experiencing a severe side effect, consult your medical practitioner to help provide you with an alternative form of therapy