Night sweats are a very common condition. However, this phenomenon is commonly mistaken for some other occurrences. Namely, many people fear that an underlying illness may be triggering their night sweats, while, actually, the main cause behind their problems is a sleeping sheet which is too thick or there is hot air in the sleeping quarters.
Thus, doctors usually give their best to distinguish the real night sweat problem from one which is caused by other things such as environmental factors or clothing. Thus, night sweats are defined as excessive sweating during the night, which drenches the clothes of the sufferer and is not caused by any environmental factors.
What Triggers Night Sweats?
In order to find the real reason behind your night sweats, you are best to contact your doctor who will look deep into your medical history and do the necessary tests in order to give the proper diagnosis.
As far as women are concerned, menopause is one of the most common reasons behind their night sweats. Sometimes, the sweating may occur before the menopause itself, being a premonition symptom, taking place due to hormonal changes in the female body.
Apart from this condition, different bacterial infections can lead to night sweats. Tuberculosis is one of the possible culprits, along with endocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart valves, osteomyelitis, which is an inflammation of the bones, AIDS and several types of abscesses.
The worst case scenario, when it comes to causes of night sweats is cancer. Namely, this night phenomenon can be an early sign of cancer, usually lymphoma. In these cases, fever and weight loss come hand-in-hand with the night sweats.
Sometimes, the medications a person is taking can be triggering the night sweats. Antidepressants usually have this condition as a side-effect. In fact, from 8 to 22% of people on antidepressants suffer from night sweats.
Causes of Flushing
Flushing or hot flushes is a phenomenon which is commonly mistaken for night sweats. However, flushing manifests through redness usually affecting the neck area and the cheeks. Niacin, tamoxifen, hydralazine, nitroglycerine and Viagra, all can lead to hot flushes.
Therefore, once you notice any of the symptoms of night sweats, make sure you seek proper medical assistance and have this problem analyzed and treated. Usually, the underlying cause of night sweats is not a serious one. Yet, you should seek adequate diagnosis so that you can start treating this condition if necessary.
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