Night sweats or night sweats may or may not have a disease value. Menopause, high blood pressure, diabetes or acute colds can all lead to night sweats, as can hereditary predisposition, stress or an overheated bedroom. Whether night sweating indicates an illness must be clarified on a case-by-case basis.
What is night sweats?
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Night sweats or night sweats are either acute hot flashes or waking up every night soaking wet and sweaty.
Both can have natural causes. An unusual amount of night sweats or excessive night sweats can also be attributed to hormones, a disturbed metabolism, certain medications or illnesses.
Night sweats themselves must be differentiated from normal night sweats or daily sweating. It is only distinguished by its quantity at night.
causes
The causes of night sweats are usually harmless in nature. Night sweats are quite normal. The body cools down in summer as in winter by sweating at night. But it is also a fact that excessive night sweats or night sweats are a nuisance in acute illnesses.
As a result of various medications, increased night sweats or night sweats can occur. Above all, antidepressants, neuroleptics, fever reducers, diabetes medication or remedies for asthma can lead to increased night sweats. Nocturnal sweating can also be caused by hormones. Menopause or certain tumors can lead to night sweats or night sweats.
It is known that acute colds, flu and tuberculosis lead to night sweats. This is due to an increased work of the immune system or to attacks of fever. Inflammation can also affect night sweats and night sweats.
Rheumatic or infectious heart inflammation inevitably leads to night sweats or night sweats. Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV infection are also known to cause night sweats.
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➔ Drugs against sweating and sweatingDiseases with this symptom
- Diabetes mellitus
- Heart attack
- HIV infection
- Glandular Pfeiffer fever
- Hodgkin's disease
- flu
- cold
- malaria
- Hyperthyroidism
- Collagenosis
- Menopause
- tuberculosis
- high blood pressure
- Anxiety disorder
- Vasculitis
Diagnosis & course
The diagnosis and course of night sweats or night sweats always depend on the root cause. If this has no disease value, the course can only be regulated with thinner duvets, a low heating temperature or airier bedclothes.
Diagnostic work-up is particularly advisable in the case of fever, acute inflammatory processes with further symptoms and sudden night sweats. If you can't explain night sweats and sudden sweating, you should see a doctor. He will be able to determine what is causing the night sweats in the overall medical history.
The further course of night sweats and night sweats then depends on the treatment of the underlying disease. Depending on the underlying disease, treatment for night sweats belongs in the hands of a specialist in internal medicine, for hormonal or metabolic diseases, for nervous diseases, or a hematologist or oncologist.
Complications
Night sweats do not always have harmless causes. A wide variety of diseases that require independent treatment can be concealed behind the symptom. Direct complications can arise from possible dehydration and nutritional deficiencies as a result of night sweats.
Colds and cardiovascular diseases can also occur during the course of the disease. If left untreated, pneumonia or even a heart attack can occur in rare cases. If night sweats occur as a result of tetanus or fungal poisoning, this can lead to palpitations, nausea and vomiting as well as blood poisoning and death of the patient.
If the cause is appendicitis, there is a risk of rupture of the appendix, accompanied by chills, severe nausea, pain in the epigastric region. In the vast majority of cases, night sweats lead to less serious complications such as a slight discomfort in the morning and exhaustion as a result of restless sleep.
The treatment itself - usually diet or drug measures - usually runs without complications. In a few cases the symptoms can worsen until the therapy is adjusted to the underlying disease, after which the night sweats should subside without long-term consequences. Possible complications should be clarified by a doctor.
When should you go to the doctor?
Night sweats are usually harmless and can be relieved with simple measures. However, if the symptoms persist or even increase over time, a doctor should be consulted. There may be a serious underlying condition that needs to be clarified and treated. If accompanied by a dry mouth, sore throat and cough, this indicates a serious cause that requires medical clarification. Hormonal problems are often related to a thyroid disorder that needs immediate treatment.
Night sweats are rarely caused by a tumor, which should also be diagnosed and removed as quickly as possible to avoid serious complications. Night sweats that are associated with an intense dream experience or restless sleep indicate emotional stress that should be worked through together with a therapist. Alcoholic people who suffer from intense night sweats should also see a doctor to diagnose the addiction and prevent further organ damage. In infants, children and people with immunodeficiency or cardiovascular disease, night sweats should always be examined by their doctor.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Treatment for night sweats must be based on the causes. If the sleeping conditions trigger night sweats, they have to be improved. Diet and drinking habits can also lead to night sweats. Here you have to target hot spices and alcohol.
If medication or infectious diseases, viruses, or hormones cause night sweats, treatment may be medication. If the thyroid function is disturbed, it must also be compensated with medication. Night sweats as a result of menopause can also be lessened.
For night sweats as a result of autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, rheumatic diseases, certain vascular inflammations or cancer diseases, various therapies are useful. Medication and surgery may be necessary.
If the psyche is responsible for night sweats, relaxation therapies and anti-stress training can help. In idiopathic night sweats, the cause is unclear. Here it is difficult to combat night sweating because the sweat glands are too active. In such cases, night sweats can only be countered with measures that are of a general nature.
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➔ Drugs against sweating and sweatingprevention
A prevention against sweating too much at night can be achieved through better temperature control in the bedroom. Synthetic materials encourage night sweats. Especially during menopause, you should only use clothing and bedding that do not contain synthetic fibers.
Since it is easy to catch cold with excessive night sweats, an ideal body temperature should be aimed for. Overheated rooms are just as dangerous as too cool. The general standard of living should be healthy. You can prevent night sweats with a diet rich in vital substances, good stress management and a balanced life.
It is important to prevent night sweats as a result of colds and infections through hardening and immune training. Many diseases that promote night sweats can be prevented in advance.
You can do that yourself
Night sweats do not always require medical treatment. Various home remedies and measures can alleviate night sweats and support medical therapy. It often helps to adjust the temperature in the bedroom - between 17 and 19 degrees is ideal - and to wear light clothing made of natural materials such as cotton or linen when sleeping.
Relaxation before going to bed can be helpful, for example with a good book, soothing music or a hot bath with sage, lavender or chamomile. During the day, the risk of night sweats can be reduced by getting enough exercise in the fresh air and a generally balanced everyday life. In addition, sufficient fluids should be consumed throughout the day - if you are ill, you should clarify the recommended amounts with your family doctor beforehand.
By not eating spicy or fatty foods, night sweats can also be reduced. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages should be avoided. Night sweats as a result of nicotine or alcohol withdrawal can be alleviated by relaxation and usually disappears on its own after a few nights. Anyone who is regularly affected by night sweats and the measures mentioned do not help, should seek medical advice.
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