Nights Sweats – Determining the Cause (Part 1)
Night sweats, sometimes called hyperhydrosis, can disrupt your sleep and leave you feeling all washed up—literally. Individuals who suffer from night sweats may awaken in the middle in the night feeling either too cold or too hot, their palms clammy, and their bed sheets moist with sweat. Night sweats are surely a nuisance and can cause insomnia-inducing stress. How do you know if you suffer from night sweats? Most likely, your wet bedding and extreme body temperature will be enough to diagnose night sweats. If you are still in doubt, visit your doctor.
What do night sweats mean? Night sweats are not inherently harmful. Usually, they are a symptom of another condition. There are myriad causes of night sweats. Perhaps the most common cause of night sweats in women is menopause. Most menopausal women will experience some form of night sweats. Men too can suffer from night sweats due to hormonal changes. Andropause, sometimes referred to as ‘male menopause,’ can also cause men to experience night sweats.
Another common cause of night sweats are sleep disorders, particularly sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when individuals experience frequent pauses of breath during the course of a night’s sleep. Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea will experience pauses that can last for up to ten seconds, and may experience up to 30 pauses in breath per night. People who experience sleep apnea will experience frequent disruptions in sleep, which can often cause night sweats. Often, night sweats can be indicative of sleep apnea. If you tend to wake up at night, sweaty and out of breath, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. You will want to consult your medical professional, who might recommend