Have you ever woken up with your clothes drenched and smelly in the middle of the night?
And then you sit on the bed wondering what is the reason for sweating so much!
You check the fan, it is at full speed!You check the windows, they’re open!
Then you lie down and wander until you fall asleep and forget about it in the morning.
Without even knowing you are ignoring a symptom that is showing an underlying cause of something big.
What you are going through is commonly referred to as “Night Sweat”.
Table of Contents
Various Causes Of Night Sweating
Night sweating is a huge amount of perspiration that occur during the night time when you are usually sleeping. It soaks through your clothes and into your bed sheets.
It may occur due to high temperature, heavy blankets or also due to some underlying disease.
There are various reasons of night sweat:
1. Menopause
Most women face night sweating just after their menopause phase starts. The main reason is due to hot flashes caused due to menopause
2. Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis
This is a condition in which your body produces sweat chronically (since a long time) and the clinical cause is not really known.
3. Infections
Bacterial infections affecting the body have night sweat as a major symptom. Sometimes night sweating is caused by Tuberculosis and HIV Infection.
4. Cancer
One of the common symptoms of cancer especially leukaemia is night sweating. It is more frequent in leukaemia as the count of white blood cells increase and the body showcases as some kind of infection has affected it. Hence, night sweat is a common factor.
5. Medication
There are some medications which tend to retain fluids of our body and hence reduce urination. The common side effects of these medicines are night sweating.
6. Hypoglycemia
People who take insulin or diabetic drug can suffer from excessive night sweating.
7. Hormone Disorders
Flushing and night sweating are common examples of various hormone disorders like hyperthyroidism.
8. Neurologic Conditions
Conditions like automated neuropathy and some common nervous disorders lead to night sweating.
Night sweating always doesn’t mean that there is some major underlying cause that you might be suffering from.
Sometimes it can happen due to excessive humidity and a badly ventilated room.
And sometimes it can be symptoms of some happiness coming along your way.
Confused?
Night sweating is said to be a prime symptom of the first trimester of pregnancy.
You might have some questions in mind. Let us find out the answers!
Causes Of Night Sweat In Pregnant Women
Night sweating occurs in females in the first 2-3 weeks of pregnancy due to elevated oestrogen levels. Hormonal imbalance is greatly seen in women who are pregnant.
Hence, their elevated hormone levels lead to various factors like fluid retention, elevated body temperature, false hunger etc. And all these are factors causing night sweat.
The malfunctioning hypothalamus gives a boost to body temperature during the night those results in hyper sweating. A woman experiences night sweats when her impaired hypothalamus secretes chemicals into her blood circulation that dilate the blood vessels and helps the body heat to escape.
It is very common in pregnancy for a woman to go through night sweats which is often accompanied by cold shivering.
Various medications can raise or lower a woman’s body temperature during pregnancy which ultimately results in night sweats. Those of you who take aspirin during their pregnancy to lessen a fever or treat pain, might notice an increase in night sweats.
In addition, pregnant women may experience side effects such as night sweats while taking anti-nausea or anti-depressive medications due to a rise in body temperature.
Pregnant women who are drug addicts may also experience an elevated body temperature as they try to withdraw from alcohol or benzodiazepines resulting in extreme night sweats.
Anxiety also leads to night sweat.
A variety of illnesses and infections can cause a woman to have night sweats during pregnancy. Various infections, viruses, cancer or autoimmune disorders can increase a pregnant woman’s temperature and cause hyperhidrosis.
A very suitable example of an illness is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which can cause drenching sweating to occur at night. When Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurs during pregnancy in which a pregnant woman develops cancer cells in her lymphatic system.
A woman does not mandatorily have to be pregnant in order to develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but a pregnant woman suffering from the disease might notice some increase in night sweats as her pregnancy progresses.
Women during pregnancy encounter high emotional differences which also might lead to night sweating.
Women experience fatigue due to sudden weight gain. This is the reason why body wants to give out heat. And this is done during the night time.
These are the reasons why night sweating is mainly an early symptom of pregnancy.
How To Reduce Night Sweat?
According to most women, night sweating can be a very unpleasant experience. And that is why we want to tell you some solutions to reduce sweating at night.
1. Sleep In Well Ventilated Room
Always turn down the thermostat, and keep windows open while sleeping. This will promote ventilation and help in keeping you cool.
If you become pregnant during winter season then these will not affect you much.\
2. Wear Light Clothes
Do not wear heavy clothes and materials which do not let your skin breathe. Wear cotton pyjamas and T-backs.
3. Keep Off Blankets
Keep off too many blankets and try to use light blankets and don’t sleep by covering your whole head.
4. Have To Bath Before You Sleep
Have a light shower before you sleep as it will exfoliate your skin and help reduce too much heat and make you feel cool.
5. Get Enough Sleep
Try to get enough rest as hypothalamus regulates your sleep cycles and getting the good amount of rest will help it to allow properly and reduce night sweats. You should, at least, sleep for 8 hours.
6. Lifestyle Modification
- Try to avoid oily and spicy foods as it is not good for your health as well your baby’s health. Try to eat food which has important minerals and vitamins in it.
- Do not forget that now you are not eating for yourself. You are eating for another life which is dependent on you.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine consumption as they stimulate your nerves and aid to night sweats.
- Cut down sugar and salt intake.
- Do not eat a heavy dinner.
- Eat soy products as it eases night sweating.
- Each body is different and that is why you must consult a doctor when you notice these symptoms.
Night Sweating Is Not The Only Symptom Of An Early Pregnancy. The Other Symptoms Are As Follows
1. Sore Breasts
You will experience saggy and tender boobs which are very soft to touch and even the slightest touch may induce pain.
The main reason behind it is a high blood flow in your breasts as it is also preparing for the pregnancy.
Wear the supportive bra to reduce some pain.
2. Darker Areolas
Another symptom of early pregnancy is the darkening of areolas due to pigmentation and body’s way to prepare for the breastfeeding.
Bump formation will also be visible.
There is no need to become tensed as this is a very common feature of pregnancy.
3. Spotting
This symptom is often misunderstood by the improper or incomplete period. This is the most symptoms. It happens due to attachment of the fetus to your ovary wall and that results in shedding of some blood.
The bleeding may be heavy or light, varies from person to person.
4. Frequent Urination
As your body starts preparing for pregnancy and it reaches your uterus the hormone HCG increases which result in frequent urination.
This hormone is responsible for a positive pregnancy test.
5. Fatigue
As you prepare to nourish a baby for 9 months your body tends to store essential nutrients which make you heavy. This results in fatigue.
Do not worry if you want to sleep or take a rest every time. The key to a successful birth is plenty of rest.
6. Missed Periods
Skipping your periods doesn’t necessarily mean you are pregnant but it is a sign that you might be. Therefore, you should immediately go for a pregnancy test.
As your uterus prepares for the fetus you do not shed blood for 9 months.
7. Morning Sickness
This symptom is common in 90% women. You get ghost vomits which means you just feel like vomiting but there is no product. This is a very irritating and unpleasant symptom which you will experience almost all through those 9 months. It is very severe in many women.
This is mainly due to the high amount of hormonal changes which your body is going through.
The best way to cope up with this is nibble onto something as soon as you get up. Take vitamin tablets and ginger tea. Go for walks.
8. Cravings
Studies show that about 90% of pregnant women experience food yearnings, especially in their first trimester. Craving is body’s way of telling you what it needs. So, if you’re dying for pickles that could mean that your body wants something salty.
You can blame the turmoil of hormones (yes, again!) for messing with your senses of taste and smell.
Here, many of you might be wondering that is night sweat normal before periods. But, let me tell you this is dicy question. A positive outlook is to be carried along and you should perform related yoga asanas.
Pregnancy is one of the most important times in a women’s life and this is the time when a woman changes into a mother. Therefore, be careful and don’t forget to consult your nearest doctor if you have any problems
