Night Sweats in Men - Causes

Night sweats are among the most common disorder encountered by men and as the name suggests, it refers to abnormal and excessive sweating during the night and especially while sleeping. What differentiates normal sweats and night sweats is that the latter arises due to an overheated environment such as using too many bed clothes or the bedroom being unusually hot. In case of night sweats, the affected person experiences what is known as hot flashes which result in drenching the sleepwear and bed sheets. Here's an insight on the various night sweat in men causes.

What Causes Night Sweats in Men

Night sweats in men causes are difficult to be pin pointed, however, there are certain conditions which have been related to the night sweats. One of the them is the low testosterone levels which is the main cause of night sweats in older men. The condition is known as andropause and is defined as a stage wherein, there is a decline in testosterone levels in men having age between 40 and 55. It is similar to menopause in women. Due to this phenomenon in some men, false signals are sent to the hypothalamus (the temperature control center in the brain), that the body is overheated. As a response to this signal, the body reacts immediately in order to ward off the excess heat causing night sweats in men.

Apart from andropause, other major night sweat in men causes are certain medical conditions which have also been associated with the disorder. Tuberculosis, endocarditis (an infection of your heart lining), certain bacterial infections such as brucellosis, abscesses (symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue), thyroiditis, hypoglycemia, osteomyelitis (bone infection) and diabetes are all night sweats in men causes. Men suffering from HIV/AIDS experience night sweats as one of the symptoms. Cancer can also cause excessive night sweats in men as it causes sudden rising and falling body temperatures.

Doctors have also studied that diseases like pheochromocytoma (a rare adrenal gland tumor), syringomyelia (a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and autonomic neuropathy (damage to your autonomic nerves) may also account for some potential causes of night sweats in men and in women as well.

Amongst the causes of night sweats in men, diseases such as pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome and hyperthyroidism are also responsible which are all hormone disorders of the body. Other causes for night sweats in men, although rare, are attributed to neurologic conditions. Examples include, autonomic dysreflexia and post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke.

Other than diseases, administration of certain medicines may also be included among the different night sweats in men causes. All types of antidepressants, psychiatric drugs, etc., have night sweats as one of their side-effects. Stress may also be one of the common causes of night sweats in young men. Anxiety pertaining to work pressure, relationships, family turmoils and the like may also lead to night sweats.

More on:

• Night Sweats in Women
• Sweating Problems

Night Sweats In Men Treatment
Treatment of night sweats in men and women is primarily targeted towards countering the underlying causes, some of which have been cited above. Practices such as relieving stress before going to bed, sleeping in a well-ventilated room and using bedding made from an breathable fabric such as cotton, could provide great deal of help in treating night sweats. Herbal teas, flaxseed oil, soy products, etc., help in reducing the incidents of night sweats.

Here's more on:

• How to Prevent Sweating
• How to Stop Excessive Sweating

So as we can see that night sweats in men causes may crop from many factors and conditions, regarding which people might remain unaware of. Plenty of rest and relaxation is what is required for treating night sweats. However, if the disorder prolongs and increases in its occurrence, a visit to a doctor would be wiser rather than just sitting on it.