Diabetes
Night sweats in women may also be a sign of diabetes, as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during the night can cause excessive sweating. Night sweats may also be caused by medications to treat diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas, which lower blood sugar levels. In addition, excessive sweating can also occur due to obesity, which often occurs with diabetes.
Cancer
In rare cases, night sweats may be an early warning sign of some cancers. These include leukemia (cancer of blood-forming tissues) and lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system). People with an undiagnosed cancer may also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss and fever.
If you’re concerned about night sweats being a sign of something more serious, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about your night sweat symptoms. They can help you find the right diagnosis.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Research suggests that night sweats are up to three times higher in people with this condition than the general population.
Infection
Several bacterial and viral infections may cause night sweats. These include:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a stomach problem in which stomach acid and bile irritate the lining of the esophagus and is sometimes associated with night sweats and sleeping difficulties.
Medications
Several medications may cause flushing and night sweats as a side effect, such as:
Aspirin: a common drug for relieving aches and pains
Niacin: an important nutrient for the body taken as a dietary supplement
Tamoxifen: an anti-estrogen drug
Hydralazine: a medication used to treat high blood pressure
Sildenafil (Viagra): a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction
Cortisone: a steroid hormone used to relieve pain and inflammation.
Psychological conditions
Increased sweating and night sweats are a common side effect of stress and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression. In particular, some research has linked night sweats to social anxiety.
When should you see a doctor?
During menopause, night sweats aren’t usually something to worry about, though you may wish to seek treatment to improve your quality of sleep and quality of life.
Other kinds of night sweats in women are also generally considered harmless, however, in some cases (as we saw above) they may be a sign of another underlying medical condition that requires treatment.
It’s important to see your doctor anytime you notice changes in your body that are out of the ordinary for you. Especially if it’s affecting your sleep and quality of life.
Treatment for night sweats in women
How you treat your night sweats, will depend on the cause. For women experiencing night sweats during menopause, there are a few different approaches.
Lifestyle changes
Making changes to your bedroom environment and lifestyle may help to reduce night sweats by reducing the likelihood your brain will mistakenly register your body as overheating.
Lifestyle changes may include:
Wearing thin, loose-fitting clothing in bed
Avoiding foods at night that are known to cause night sweats such as caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol
Lowering your stress levels, through breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or hypnosis.
Cooling blankets, air conditioning and ice packs won’t reduce the frequency or duration of your night sweats, and may cause you to chill afterwards. Try to keep a stable temperature and avoid any food or drink triggers before bed.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy for menopausal hot flashes has been shown to reduce night sweats by up to 74%, showing it to be as effective as hormone replacement therapy in treating this symptom, but with no known side-effects.
Hypnotherapy has also been shown to improve symptoms of mild depression, anxiety, hormonal mood changes and hot flashes, which you may also experience during menopause.
While it may be difficult to access specialized services for menopause hypnotherapy, and there may be high per-session costs, there are some at-home options available, including apps⸺developed in conjunction with leading hypnotherapy clinicians.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (estrogen, or estrogen in combination with progestin) is an option that was commonly used for many years.There are well documented risks and benefits to using hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Because of the underlying natural loss of estrogen, HRT has been shown to treat the symptoms of menopause, and may also help with bone loss and vaginal dryness. However, it can be risky to those with certain conditions such as cardiovascular disease or breast cancer, and less effective for those already in the menopausal phase.
To find out if this therapy is appropriate for you, it’s important to discuss your options with your doctor. There may be other, less risky options more suitable for you at this stage of life.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants have been shown to only have a modest impact on hot flashes and night sweats in women.
They are around 30% less effective than hormonal treatments and may produce unwanted side effects such as insomnia, diarrhea, dry mouth and loss of ability to achieve orgasm. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits for you and your personal situation.
The Wrap Up
While there are many causes of night sweats, they most commonly occur in women in menopause or perimenopause. For some women, night sweats can have a serious impact on their quality of sleep and quality of life.
The good news is that there are several treatments available to help you manage your night sweats and reclaim your sleep. These include hormone replacement therapy, in-home or in-person hypnotherapy, and making alterations to your lifestyle.
References
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Al-Azzawi, F. and Palacios, S., 2009. Hormonal changes during menopause. Maturitas, 63(2), pp.135-137. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851220900098X
Arnardottir, E.S., Janson, C., Bjornsdottir, E., Benediktsdottir, B., Juliusson, S., Kuna, S.K., Pack, A.I. and Gislason, T., 2013. Is frequent nocturnal sweating a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea?. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4028.short
Bansal, R. and Aggarwal, N., 2019. Menopausal hot flashes: a concise review. Journal of mid-life health, 10(1), p.6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6459071/
Bassetti, C. and Aldrich, M.S., 1999. Sleep apnea in acute cerebrovascular diseases: final report on 128 patients. Sleep, 22(2), pp.217-223. https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/22/2/217/2731713
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