If you are a woman who has night sweats every night, this post is for you. I’m going to cover the causes of night sweats and how to alleviate them with some simple lifestyle changes.
Night sweats can be caused by a variety of factors including medications, hormones, infections, stress, or anxiety.
There are many different types of night sweat as well as treatments available depending on what is causing your symptoms.
In order to stop sweating at night, it is important that you first identify the cause so that you can choose an appropriate treatment option.
Night sweats have been shown in studies to lead to poorer quality sleep which makes them more difficult to manage long-term even if they do eventually subside without any intervention from a doctor or other medical professional.
It is really important to try and get a diagnosis from your doctor if you are having night sweats every night. Determining the cause is crucial in being able to treat them successfully.
I have written this post to provide you with information that will help you to better understand your symptoms, what the possible causes may be, how to prevent them, and how to get diagnosed if you need to.
Please note that this is not a substitute for medical or mental health advice so you should always seek professional advice as needed.
Night Sweats in a woman
‘Night sweats’ can occur at any time of day or night but are usually associated with nighttime.
Night sweats refer to a sudden feeling of heat or flushing which may lead to perspiration, particularly on the chest and back areas. They can also sometimes lead to cold shivers afterward.
In some cases, sweating can be random and overwhelming regardless of whether it is a hot or cold environment.
Night sweats may also be accompanied by a racing heart, rapid breathing, and clammy skin as well as general discomfort.
They can cause you to awaken from your sleep drenched in sweat and uncomfortable. This is not only unpleasant but affects your quality of sleep which is problematic for those who have been experiencing it on a regular basis for an extended period of time.
What are the causes of night sweats in a woman?
The exact cause of night sweats is often hard to determine and may be attributed to a variety of different factors including:
Hormonal changes: women going through menopause or perimenopause may experience night sweats as a result of hormonal changes. In particular, night sweats have been shown to be more common in those experiencing severe hot flushes around the time of their period. This is due to a drop in estrogen levels which causes your body temperature to be lower than usual.
Poor blood circulation: Poor blood circulation is also thought to be a possible reason behind night sweats in some women. This is because when your blood vessels are narrowed due to poor circulation it can increase the amount of heat that builds up in the body which leads to overheating.
Thyroid disorders: hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)
Cancer: typically a night sweat with chills is considered to be an ‘alarm symptom’ that needs immediate medical attention. This is because it can sometimes indicate that something more serious may be responsible for the symptoms such as lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, or gastrointestinal cancers.
Medications: some medications can cause you to experience night sweats as a side effect. These include antidepressants and antipsychotic medications among others. Some birth control medication has also been shown to increase the frequency of night sweats in some women so this may be something to mention to your doctor if it is relevant.
Nutritional deficiencies: particularly dehydration and lack of vitamins B1, B2, C, D & E. Although rare this is one of the most likely causes if you are experiencing night sweats regularly after drinking copious amounts of alcohol every night. This link has also been shown to correlate with excessive caffeine intake.
Infections – gut infections such as H Pylori have been shown to be a possible cause in some cases of night sweats. In particular, there is a possibility that it could lead to Acid Reflux.
Excessive alcohol consumption: it has been shown that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to sleep disturbances and night sweats.
Stress or anxiety-related issues: stress and anxiety can also cause night sweats and sleep disturbances in some cases. This is linked with the changes your body experiences as a result of high cortisol levels which are generally associated with high stress.
Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism): this can lead to night sweats, increased heart rate, and weight loss on its own, or in some cases it may be related to an underlying cause such as cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia. In particular, it is seen as a side effect of Graves Disease – an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland.
How to stop night sweats in women?
There is a range of things that you can do to help reduce the frequency and intensity of night sweats in women. These include:
Maintain a healthy body weight: this can help to reduce your risk and severity of night sweats and is recommended in most cases that you go on a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Drink plenty of water: drinking water regularly helps to flush toxins out of your body which can improve blood circulation. It also helps to prevent dehydration which is known to cause hot flushes so this is one of the best things you can do to reduce night sweats. This is particularly important if you are exercising or drinking alcohol regularly as these activities can cause dehydration.
Take supplements: Vitamin B1, B2, C, E & D are all considered to be great for improving your circulation and reducing the chances of suffering from hot flushes.
Divert blood flow: this can help to reduce night sweats and hot flushes in some cases. A simple way of doing this is using a fan or placing the window open during the night if it’s warm outside. Other methods such as taking a cold shower, wrapping your head in a cold towel, or putting an ice pack on the back of your neck.
Limit alcohol consumption: if you are a heavy drinker then consider reducing how much beer, wine, and spirits that you have each night. This should help to reduce the chances of suffering from night sweats in most cases.
Limit your caffeine intake: just like with alcohol, limiting or cutting out caffeine can help to limit hot flushes and night sweats in most cases.
Use a moisturizer: if you are suffering from dry skin then consider using a high-quality moisturizer before going to bed. This can help to make your skin softer which in turn reduces the chances of getting night sweats or hot flushes during the night.
Limit your stress levels: contrary to popular belief stress is one of the most common causes of night sweats.
So how do you limit your stress levels? Firstly, you should try to cut down on any unnecessary stressful activities such as taking on too many projects at once or getting stuck in a job that you dislike. If you cannot change your career then consider cutting down how busy you are at work.
Secondly, you should try to learn how to relax your mind and body for a short period of time each day. This could be an hour before bed or even just a short yoga session during the day. There is plenty of great information out there on this subject if you search online so it should not be too hard for you to learn how to calm your mind before bed if you are experiencing stress-related night sweats.
Learn how to sleep properly: there are plenty of people out there that struggle with sleeping. Some don’t know the right way to fall asleep quickly while others find it difficult to stay asleep all night without waking up or suffering from hot flushes.
If you want to stop suffering from night sweats then it is important that you learn how to sleep properly. There are plenty of online resources such as YouTube videos that can help with this (search for “sleep hygiene”). Alternatively, try reading a book or magazine on the subject to get started.
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