Sweating While Sleeping

Mild sweating while sleeping is normal, if it is because of the hot environment in the room that the person is sleeping. However, if the person is experiencing excessive sweating in night, i.e. his night clothes and bedding get wet and the sweating is unrelated to external factors, such as hot weather or heavy clothing; in such a scenario, sweating while sleeping is not normal. Let's find out the reasons behind this condition by looking at the excessive sweating while sleeping causes.

Causes of Sweating While Sleeping

Side-effects of a Medicine: Sweating could be due to certain medicines which the person is taking. Medicines, such as crocin, which are used to bring down the temperature of the body, in case of a fever, cause a lot of sweating. Certain psychiatry medicines are also known to cause sweating while sleeping. Medicines, such as cortisone, prednisone and prednisolone, which have anti-inflammatory properties and are used in conditions, like arthritis and asthma, are also known to cause sweating while sleeping.

Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal imbalance in the body can lead to sweating while sleeping. Women above the age of 40, who are going through menopause, often experience sweating while sleeping. Sweating is often accompanied by hot flashes and general discomfort during menopause. Certain hormonal disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, also cause sweating while sleeping. Hyperthyroidism can cause sweating while sleeping in children too.

Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis: In this condition, the nervous system tells the body to produce excessive sweat. The sweat production is to, such an extent that the person experiencing has sweat literally dropping off his body. Thus, idiopathic hyperhidrosis is another cause of excessive sweating while sleeping.

Symptom of a Disease: Sweating while sleeping is caused if a person has an undiagnosed tumor or cancer. A person who has lymphoma, a type of cancer, often experiences excessive sweating at night as one of the earliest symptoms. Sweating while sleeping can be a symptom of certain bacterial infections or virus infections caused in the body too. If sweating while sleeping is accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat ,and short breaths, heart disease could be a possible reason. Patients with HIV infection are known to suffer from excessive sweating while sleeping.

Diminished Glucose Levels: The condition hypoglycemia is characterized by low levels of glucose in blood. Sweating while sleeping is a symptom of hypoglycemia. People suffering from diabetes who are prescribed diabetic medicines or insulin, often suffer from sweating while sleeping. Children and infants who experience sweats while sleeping along with excessive urination and weight loss could be suffering from diabetes.

Neurological Conditions: A person suffering from depression and anxiety may experience sweating while sleeping along with other symptoms. Night sweats in men are especially caused due to anxiety. Certain neurological conditions such as autonomic neuropathy, dysreflexia and post-traumatic syringomyelia might cause sweats while sleeping.

Treatment for Sweating While Sleeping

If the sweating while sleeping is due to environmental conditions, wear loose, cotton clothes while sleeping. Avoid spicy, high fat foods at dinner time. Washing the face with water or having a shower before bedtime can provide relief too. You may also consult a doctor, who most probably will recommend application of antiperspirants regularly. Another treatment for excessive sweating is iontophoresis therapy, and if the condition becomes severe, a surgery is also done in an occasional patient.

Mild sweating while sleeping is easily treatable at home. However, excessive sweating at night, if accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, change in the heart rate, chest pain, etc. should not be ignored, as there could be an underlying medical condition.