The 7 reasons you sweat in your sleep – and when you must see a doctor

AS the temperature hots up this week, you might find yourself waking up covered in sweat.

While being too hot is the usual culprit, there are other conditions that your drenched sheets could be down to.

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Sweating at night might make you feel as though you want to stick your head in the fridge – but there could be a reason – aside from the temperature as to why you’re sweating[/caption]

The NHS says that most people who suffer with night sweats will not need treatment.

For most people, opening the windows, using breathable fabrics and having a glass of water near your bed is likely to do the trick.

It was previously found that night sweats had been a symptom of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

If you think you have Covid then there are some groups that can still get a test for free and it’s important to note that you might also experience night sweats due to illness like the flu.

1. Menopause

Experts at the NHS said that if you have night sweats, then menopause is one of the main culprits.

The hormone changes during this time can give women wet sheets.

But it is treatable – go to your GP if it is affecting you.

However, in recent months there has been a shortage of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

This is the main set of medication that a doctor will prescribe to help women going through ‘the change’, when they may experience mood swings, hot flushes and night sweats.

2. Medication

Medications have all sorts of side effects.

Antidepressants, steroids and painkillers are one of the most common causes of those pesky beads of sweat that form.

If you’ve started sweating since taking medication, you could talk to your GP to see if you can switch. 

3. Low blood sugar

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia – refers to when your blood sugar drops to abnormally low levels.

This is usually linked to diabetes and many people who take insulin to treat the condition will also suffer with night sweats.

In some cases, this is because their body is working harder than most people when it comes making sure their organs are fully functioning.

Dr Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe explained that when blood sugar levels fall too low, then this can activate the release of adrenaline.

When this happens, your sweat glands are stimulated, and you start sweating to cool down, she told Insider.

4. Infections

Sweating in the night can be a sign the immune system is fighting off infection.

Some people have reported this while battling coronavirus. For the same reason, it may also occur as a side effect of vaccination. 

You might also experience night sweats if you have a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or a parasitic infection.

5. Booze

If you’re accustomed to having a drink or two before bed to help you drift off, then this could also be the reason for your night sweats.

This is because booze can relax your airways, making it harder for you to breathe and in turn, your body is putting in extra effort to do so – which raises your body temperature.

Alcohol also increases your heart rate which causes sweating and because your favourite tipple is a toxin, your body might sweat more to flush it out of your system.

6. Certain cancers

Sweating at night can also be a very early warning sign of some cancers, most notably lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. But this would be rare.

7. Anxiety

This can be a common cause of excessive sweating. Take this quiz to find out if you are displaying anxiety symptoms. 

When people become anxious, their body fires up into the fight or flight response.

This can then alter your heart rate, which is why many who struggle with anxiety can find it difficult to breath.

Feeling nervous can also trigger your body to sweat – which then means you need to cool down.