Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Night sweatsare episodes of sweating at night while sleeping. Night sweats can vary from waking up feeling moist to waking and being drenched in sweat, requiring a shower and changing bedclothes in the middle of the night.
This article will discuss night sweats and their possible causes. It will also discuss when to seek an evaluation with your healthcare team if you’re experiencing night sweats.
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Symptoms of Night Sweats
How much people perspire at night can vary. There isn’t a formal classification of night sweats in terms of mild or severe, but there are varying degrees of how much someone may sweat at night.
With mild night sweats, you may feel warm and sweaty when you awaken, either in the middle of the night or in the morning, but the sweating is not all that concerning.
Moderate night sweats may wake you up with a need to wash your face but not change your clothes.
Drenching night sweats can wake you up covered in sweat. This usually requires changing your sheets and pajamas, and even taking a shower or bath to wash the sweat off.
Causes of Night Sweats
Night sweats can have a variety of causes. The reason can be as simple as sleeping in a room that is too warm. Some people just naturally sweat more than others, and this is normal for them and nothing to worry about.
The purpose of sweating is to cool the body and help regulate body temperature, and also to release salt from the body.
Many conditions have the potential to cause night sweats. Some of the most common causes are:
Infections
Infections such astuberculosisand other lung infections,human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),andCOVID-19can cause night sweats to occur.
Cancer
Night sweats associated with cancer are typically drenching night sweats, requiring a change of clothes and sheets.
Hormones
What Medications Can Cause Night Sweats?
Many medications are associated with night sweats. The most common medications that cause night sweats are:
How to Treat Night Sweats
Night sweats can be uncomfortable and disruptive to getting adequate sleep. Seek advice from a healthcare provider if the night sweats are drenching or you’re experiencing symptoms such as:
Some quick fixes to improving night sweats can be sleeping in loose-fitting, cotton clothing. Cotton is a breathable material that can allow for good airflow to cool the skin.Sweat-wicking fabricsare also available for sleepwear.
Other nonmedication strategies for reducing night sweats include relaxation and deep breathing techniques that help the body calm down before going to sleep.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Night Sweats?
If night sweats are a recurrent problem, they become severe, or they co-occur with other symptoms such as the ones listed, diagnostic tests may be ordered to help find the cause. These include:
If night sweats have been a regular occurrence and are preventing you from getting adequate sleep, discuss this with a healthcare provider.
You should notify your provider if any other symptoms are present along with the night sweats. These symptoms can include
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Night sweats can be uncomfortable and a reason for lost sleep. There are many reasons that night sweats occur, but they usually aren’t related to a severe illness such as cancer. Talk to a healthcare provider about your concerns.
Learn MoreWhy Do I Sweat in My Sleep?
Most night sweats happen for benign reasons. You should be concerned about night sweats if other symptoms such as fevers, chills, weight loss, and itching skin are also experienced.Learn MoreCauses of Hot Flashes
Most night sweats happen for benign reasons. You should be concerned about night sweats if other symptoms such as fevers, chills, weight loss, and itching skin are also experienced.
Learn MoreCauses of Hot Flashes
Although it’s not one of the most common symptoms, night sweats have been reported in COVID-19.Learn MoreCOVID-19 Symptoms
Although it’s not one of the most common symptoms, night sweats have been reported in COVID-19.
Learn MoreCOVID-19 Symptoms
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Night sweats.
Baker LB.Physiology of sweat gland function: The roles of sweating and sweat composition in human health.Temperature (Austin). 2019;6(3):211-259. doi:10.1080/23328940.2019.1632145
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.
Jawad AS.Night sweats (nocturnal hyperhidrosis) causing wrinkled (pruney) hands in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. 2022;52(2):132-133. doi:10.1177/14782715221103671
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Signs & symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Mold JW, Holtzclaw BJ.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and night sweats in a primary care population.Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2015;2(1):29-33. doi:10.1007/s40801-015-0007-8
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Signs and symptoms.
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