Day 24: What Causes Night Sweats

You wake up out of a dead sleep feeling like you’re on fire. The bed sheets are soaked and you feel like you’ve just run a marathon in the middle of the summer in the Sahara. If that sounds familiar, you’ve been dealing with night sweats.

We know that night sweats are the night time equivalent of a hot flash. They can occur anytime during the night but you’re most likely to be awakened by one in the wee hours of the morning when you’re in lighter stages of sleep.

Being woken up suddenly always provokes anxiety. We are at our most vulnerable when we’re asleep and being startled awake triggers that old familiar “fight or flight” response. It can take a minute to get your bearings.

So what causes night sweats?

The most common cause of night sweats is the hormonal changes related to menopause. Like the hot flash, it is believed that as hormone levels become more unstable, the brain sometimes receives faulty signals about your body’s internal temperature. It activates your body’s cooling system, blood vessels dilate, and here comes the heat. Thank you estrogen and progesterone.

It might surprise you, but there are other causes of night sweats that you should be aware of.1 These other causes are important because you can actually have more than one risk factor for night sweats. Some you can control. Some you can moderate. Others are just things to be aware of.

The first is sleep problems – Nightmares, insomnia and restless leg syndrome are associated with triggering night sweats.

Anxiety is another factor that’s linked with night sweats and sleep problems. It can increase agitation, restlessness and insomnia, leading to night sweats.

Some health issues such as thyroid problems, autoimmune diseases, and infections have been linked to night sweats as well.

Alcohol can also cause night-time sweating. If you consume alcohol, it’s important to be mindful of how it affects you.

A number of medications are known to exacerbate night time sweating. Some antidepressants, thyroid replacements and even acetaminophen can trigger a sweat.

So why is this important to know?

If you’re having particularly severe or distressing night sweats, it’s a good idea to check it out with your doctor. Because they can be related to other non-menopause factors, it’s always wise to have the conversation with your healthcare provider. Peace of mind is always a good choice.

This information is also an important part of your journey. Yes, most of us deal with night sweats in menopause, but some of us may have other risk factors too. For example, you might take a medication that increases your chances of having night sweats. You might have thyroid issues. Some things you can control or mitigate. Some things you just have to be mindful of. The most important thing is to be aware and to know that you can manage your night sweats.