Medical Conditions Associated With Excessive Sweating at Night
Sweat is the body's natural way of producing a salty liquid to maintain constant internal temperature.
Sweat usually occurs under the arms, feet, and palms.
People experience excessive sweating when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.
Whenever this salty liquid mixes with bacteria on the skin, it can cause a body odor known as bromhidrosis.
With the use of antiperspirant or deodorant, and proper hygiene it helps eliminate or if not control body odor.
But excessive sweating may sometimes be a cause of some underlying medical conditions.
Primary Physician often heard complains from their patient of night sweats refer to excessive sweating occurring at night.
This occurrence is very common and usually doesn't cause for any concern.
Some may probably be due to many blankets on your bed or because of weather conditions.
But it could be a cause of a medical disorder.
There are many causes of excessive sweating at night.
The following are some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats: Menopause.
This is a very common cause of excessive sweating or hot flashes that can occur at night in perimenopausal women.
Always take note that hot flashes and other symptoms of the perimenopause can precede the actual menopause (the cessation of menstrual periods) by several years.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis.
It is a condition in which the body chronically produces too much sweat without any identifiable medical cause.
It can develop during childhood or later in life.
The excessive sweating may occur even during cool weather, but can worsen during warm weather and when the person is under emotional stress.
Infections.
It has been established medically that tuberculosis is the infection commonly associated with night sweats.
Other bacterial infections that can be associated with excessive night sweat are endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves), osteomyelitis (inflammation within the bones due to infection), abscesses like, boils, appendix, tonsils, perianal, peritonsillar, diverticulitis, and AIDS virus (HIV) infection.
Cancer.
Excessive sweating at night can be an early sign of cancer.
The most common cancer associated with this disorder is lymphoma.
However, a person might also experience other symptoms as well such as unexplained weight loss and fever.
Medication.
Without other physical symptoms or signs of cancer or infection, medications are sometimes the cause of excessive sweating.
Medications such as: * All types of antidepressant medications can lead to night sweats including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the newer agents, venlafaxine (Effexor) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) can cause night sweats as a side effect.
Other psychiatric drugs have also been associated with night sweats.
* Medicine taken to lower fever (antipyretics) such as aspirin and acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating.
* Some of the many drugs that can cause flushing include niacin [(Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin) (taken in the higher doses used for lipid disorders)], tamoxifen (Nolvadex), hydralazine, nitroglycerine, sildenafil (Viagra), cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone.
Hypoglycemia.
Diabetic people who are taking insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications may experience hypoglycemia at night that is accompanied by sweating.
Hormone disorders.
Excessive sweating or flushing can be the symptoms of several hormone disorders, including pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism.
Neurologic conditions.
A nerve disorder that affects involuntary body functions such as sweat glands.
Sweating abnormalities, such as excessive or decreased sweating which affects the ability to regulate body temperature.
We cannot deny the fact that excessive sweating is a nuisance and very annoying, nevertheless, they are sometimes a signs and symptoms of underlying medical conditions, and early detection is very important.
Sweat usually occurs under the arms, feet, and palms.
People experience excessive sweating when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.
Whenever this salty liquid mixes with bacteria on the skin, it can cause a body odor known as bromhidrosis.
With the use of antiperspirant or deodorant, and proper hygiene it helps eliminate or if not control body odor.
But excessive sweating may sometimes be a cause of some underlying medical conditions.
Primary Physician often heard complains from their patient of night sweats refer to excessive sweating occurring at night.
This occurrence is very common and usually doesn't cause for any concern.
Some may probably be due to many blankets on your bed or because of weather conditions.
But it could be a cause of a medical disorder.
There are many causes of excessive sweating at night.
The following are some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats: Menopause.
This is a very common cause of excessive sweating or hot flashes that can occur at night in perimenopausal women.
Always take note that hot flashes and other symptoms of the perimenopause can precede the actual menopause (the cessation of menstrual periods) by several years.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis.
It is a condition in which the body chronically produces too much sweat without any identifiable medical cause.
It can develop during childhood or later in life.
The excessive sweating may occur even during cool weather, but can worsen during warm weather and when the person is under emotional stress.
Infections.
It has been established medically that tuberculosis is the infection commonly associated with night sweats.
Other bacterial infections that can be associated with excessive night sweat are endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves), osteomyelitis (inflammation within the bones due to infection), abscesses like, boils, appendix, tonsils, perianal, peritonsillar, diverticulitis, and AIDS virus (HIV) infection.
Cancer.
Excessive sweating at night can be an early sign of cancer.
The most common cancer associated with this disorder is lymphoma.
However, a person might also experience other symptoms as well such as unexplained weight loss and fever.
Medication.
Without other physical symptoms or signs of cancer or infection, medications are sometimes the cause of excessive sweating.
Medications such as: * All types of antidepressant medications can lead to night sweats including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the newer agents, venlafaxine (Effexor) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) can cause night sweats as a side effect.
Other psychiatric drugs have also been associated with night sweats.
* Medicine taken to lower fever (antipyretics) such as aspirin and acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating.
* Some of the many drugs that can cause flushing include niacin [(Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin) (taken in the higher doses used for lipid disorders)], tamoxifen (Nolvadex), hydralazine, nitroglycerine, sildenafil (Viagra), cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone.
Hypoglycemia.
Diabetic people who are taking insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications may experience hypoglycemia at night that is accompanied by sweating.
Hormone disorders.
Excessive sweating or flushing can be the symptoms of several hormone disorders, including pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism.
Neurologic conditions.
A nerve disorder that affects involuntary body functions such as sweat glands.
Sweating abnormalities, such as excessive or decreased sweating which affects the ability to regulate body temperature.
We cannot deny the fact that excessive sweating is a nuisance and very annoying, nevertheless, they are sometimes a signs and symptoms of underlying medical conditions, and early detection is very important.