Although night sweats are a symptom of some types of cancer, they can also happen for other reasons, such as: changes in hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause. increases in hormones and blood flow during pregnancy. some bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis and endocarditis.
Leukemia and lymphoma are among the cancers associated with night sweats. Those associated with leukemia usually occur in conjunction with symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, or excessive bruising. Leukemia-related sweats may also result from daytime fevers.
Some cancers can cause you to sweat more than usual. These include: non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma.
Night sweats can be a manifestation of simple infection, underlying malignancy, more complex infections – including TB and HIV – connective tissue disorders, menopause or certain prescribed drugs. It's also important not to overlook possible psychological causes, such as night terrors secondary to PTSD.
Sweating, night sweats, and hot flashes can be side effects of cancer and its treatment. It's important to know why they might happen and what can help to relieve them.
Schedule a visit with your health care provider if night sweats: Occur on a regular basis. Interrupt your sleep. Are accompanied by a fever, weight loss, pain in a specific area, cough, diarrhea or other symptoms of concern.
"If you're regularly waking up soaked in sweat, experiencing sudden night sweats accompanied by weight loss or if your night sweats are keeping you from getting quality sleep, it's time to talk to your doctor."
"Night sweats can be caused by a number of medical conditions. Some of the most common causes include the menopause, anxiety, medicines, low blood sugar, infections, alcohol or drug misuse, and hyperhidrosis," says Gilani.
That said, common causes identified in research about night sweats include menopause, medications, infections, and hormone problems.
Although night sweats are a symptom of some types of cancer, they can also happen for other reasons, such as: changes in hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause. increases in hormones and blood flow during pregnancy. some bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis and endocarditis.
Causes of night sweats
medicines – some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers. low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) alcohol or drug use. a harmless condition called hyperhidrosis that makes you sweat too much all the time.
Sweats can happen at any time of the day with lymphoma, but they are most common at night. They are often described as 'drenching' and can make your nightclothes or bed sheets soaking wet. Itching ('pruritus') without a rash can be a symptom of lymphoma. It can be very uncomfortable, particularly when you get hot.
Drenching night sweats. Many people with Hodgkin lymphoma say their nightclothes or the sheets on the bed were so wet they needed to be changed during the night. Sometimes, heavy sweating occurs during the day.
Excessive Sweating
When the arteries become clogged, your heart is forced to work harder to keep blood flowing. In response, your body sweats to keep your temperature down. Night sweats are a common symptom in women who are having heart problems, though the symptom is sometimes mistaken as a sign of menopause.
Cytokines can irritate nerve endings in the skin, which can in turn cause persistent itching. Many individuals experience this itchiness in their hands, lower legs or feet, while others feel it throughout their entire body. Patients often report that the itching tends to worsen while they are lying in bed at night.
Low-Grade Lymphoma
These grow so slowly that patients can live for many years mostly without symptoms, although some may experience pain from an enlarged lymph gland. After five to 10 years, low-grade disorders begin to progress rapidly to become aggressive or high-grade and produce more severe symptoms.
Night sweats are repeated episodes of very heavy sweating during sleep, heavy enough to soak your nightclothes or bedding. They're often caused by an underlying condition or illness. Sometimes you may wake up after sweating heavily, particularly if you're sleeping under too many blankets or your bedroom is too warm.
One of the major causes of cold sweats is a lack of even distribution of blood and oxygen throughout the body, making hypotension a contributor to cold sweats during the night.
Night sweats are symptoms of myriad autoimmune issues and often are signs of hidden infection. Many of the most common autoimmune diseases—Rheumatoid arthritis, Celiac disease, Lupus, Multiple sclerosis, etc. —all share night sweats, fever, and hot flashes as symptoms.
Common causes of night sweats
The night sweats women experience can be a sign of decreased estrogen levels. Estrogen is a vital hormone that controls many physical processes. But as you approach menopause, your body gradually produces less estrogen.
People with thyroid issues may experience night sweats. However, night sweats are not one of the hallmark symptoms of hypothyroidism. Heat intolerance and sweating are symptoms more commonly linked to hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).