Night sweats - How to treat?

What can be done against night sweating?

Why do we actually sweat?

Even though it is an unpleasant topic for many people, Sweating is a normal and even vital body function for maintaining health. Sweating serves the human body as a climate control system and protects us from overheating. Even while sleeping, we lose an average of 0.5 to 1 liter to the mattress. Therefore, it is important that sleep products such as mattresses and accessories are breathable and can quickly absorb moisture. Whether due to stress, physical exertion, or simply warm weather, without sweat production, there is a quick risk of heat stroke. If our sweat glands produced no sweat at all, it would not be healthy for us. Sweat is produced by the sweat glands and forms a thin layer of moisture on the skin. This moisture conducts body heat from the inside to the outside and transfers it to the environment. If the environment cannot absorb the excessive body heat because it is already too warm, the body responds with increased sweating.

Sweating is not the same as sweating - When to see a doctor?

Even though sweating is generally a completely normal topic, sweating is not the same as sweating. The intensity of sweat production and the external circumstances provide insight into whether a person sweats normally or whether excessive, strong sweating occurs. Excessive and strong sweating refers to sweat production without an apparent reason, meaning without the influence of heat or physical exertion. In medicine, excessive sweating is referred to as hyperhidrosis. Generally, it can be said that one should speak to a doctor at the latest when strong and frequent sweating affects daily life, or in the case of night sweats, the quality of sleep. Even if other symptoms occur alongside night sweats or strong sweating in general, these symptoms should be clarified by doctors.

Night sweats - causes are usually harmless

Nighttime hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating at night, usually has a cause that is both harmless and easy to eliminate. Most often, a person sweats during sleep due to a too high room temperature, too warm sleepwear, or the wrong bedding. Therefore, a good mattress is essential for waking up well and refreshed. Especially a too warm, non-breathable blanket can promote increased night sweats and is usually the cause. It is all the more important to have a mattress that is suitable for you. In an individual consultation, it can be clarified which mattress (whether gel, latex, or cold foam mattress) fits best. However, if other symptoms and complaints occur alongside night sweats that may indicate a disease, these symptoms should definitely be discussed with a doctor to rule out serious illnesses. Because even in the case of night sweats, serious diseases can be the reason for initially harmless symptoms.

Nightly heavy sweating - The right bedding

A duvet chosen too warm or unsuitable materials are the most common reasons for excessive sweating during the night. To prevent this and to find out if bedding and mattress are the right ones, one should test the items for at least one month before sleeping. The duvet determines 70 to 80% of the nightly sleep climate and influences how well our body's own air conditioning can work during sleep. A duvet should keep us warm at night, but it must be breathable to be able to dissipate the produced sweat to the environment. A sweat production of up to 400 ml per night can be normal. This amount of sweat should be absorbed by the duvet but also released back to the environment as quickly as possible. If the duvet retains this moisture for too long, it feels uncomfortably damp and clammy on the skin and also becomes heavy.

Suitable duvets for night sweats

First, in the case of heavy sweating during sleep, it should naturally be checked whether the current duvet is simply too warm. Especially men often suffer from heavy night sweats due to overly warm duvets. This is particularly the case when a couple shares a common duvet. Since women generally get cold faster than men, women often insist on very warm blankets. In the case of nocturnal hyperhidrosis, blankets that are very breathable should always be chosen. Breathable means that sweat is absorbed by the blanket but not stored in it, rather it is quickly released back into the environment. This keeps the climate under the blanket pleasantly dry. Blankets with natural hair filling, such as wool or camel hair, are considered particularly breathable. Microfiber fabrics, usually made from polyester, are also well suited for hyperhidrosis. Affected individuals who suffer from hyperhidrosis need to wash their duvets and bed linens more frequently. Synthetic fiber blankets are very easy to care for compared to natural materials and can be washed frequently without any problems. Microfiber duvets withstand machine washes at 60°C without any issues.

Night Sweating - The Right Sleep Climate

In addition to the right duvet, the temperature in the bedroom is also crucial for restful sleep. Most people prefer a cooler environment when sleeping. This is because the body is one to two degrees cooler at night than during the day. As a result, especially during hot summer nights, there is often significant sweating at night. However, even in winter, night sweats can be an issue, as many people tend to heat the rooms too much. Regular ventilation and sleeping with a slightly open window can help against nocturnal hyperhidrosis, which also helps with symptoms like chronic headaches. High-quality bedding and a mattress that is Öko-Tex certified can additionally support having a restful night.

Night sweating - medical causes

Night sweats alone are a very nonspecific symptom for medical professionals. If the cause of night sweats cannot be clarified and there seem to be no natural or medical causes, it is referred to as idiopathic night sweats. However, if diseases are present, night sweats usually do not occur as the only symptom, but always in combination with other specific symptoms. The cause of hyperhidrosis and specifically night sweating can be very diverse, ranging from commonly occurring flu-like infections to serious diseases such as Parkinson's or cancer. The following causes are possible for hyperhidrosis and specifically night sweats:

hormonal disorders (for example, hyperthyroidism)

hormonal fluctuations, for example during menopause or pregnancy

metabolic diseases (for example, diabetes)

infectious diseases (for example, flu, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria) and associated fever

neurological diseases (for example, Parkinson's, stroke)

tumor diseases (for example, leukemia, lymphoma)

withdrawal from alcohol, drugs, or certain medications

too spicy food

medications

pain

mental illnesses, stress

Night sweating - treatment and therapy

The treatment and therapy of hyperhidrosis and night sweats primarily depends on the underlying condition, if such exists. Since night sweating in these cases is only a accompanying symptom, it is generally not treated in the presence of a disease. Through successful therapy of the illness and targeted treatment of the cause, the other symptoms, including night sweats, gradually disappear as well. In some cases, night sweats can also be specifically treated with medications. For example, there are certain medications for women in menopause to alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating episodes.

Night sweating - tips for night sweats

If a doctor or medical professional can rule out serious illnesses as the cause of night sweats, there are some tips that can help with severe night sweats and alleviate the suffering:

avoid coffee and heavily spiced, spicy food (especially before going to sleep)

pay attention to a balanced diet (especially during times of hormonal changes, such as in pregnancy or during menopause)

avoid excessive consumption of alcohol before sleeping

test if your duvet is suitable

use breathable materials for duvet and bed linen

ventilate your bedroom regularly or sleep with the window open

avoid overheating the bedroom

avoid or reduce stress and ensure relaxation before sleep. Home remedies like hot milk with honey can also help.