Upper body sweating at night, also known as “night sweats”, is fairly common among older adults in developed nations around the world. It can strike younger adults, as well as teens and children, and can be caused by a large number of things. How you might deal specifically with night sweats really depends on finding the cause of your particular affliction. Once the cause is known you may be able to eliminate it completely. If not, there are certain things you can do to reduce the amount perspiration and mitigate the discomfort it causes.
Upper Body Sweating at Night – Hyperhidrosis and Other “Benign” Causes
The most common cause of night sweats is a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is simply the overproduction of perspiration within the body’s sweat glands. It most often occurs in the armpits, hands, feet, and groin, but it can affect any part of the body. Sometimes hyperhidrosis is a genetic disorder which you can do nothing about. Other times it’s acquired later in life as a result of factors like stress, allergic reactions, or the development of things like diabetes, thyroid disease, or pituitary disease.
For the purposes of this article, we classified these causes as “benign” because they are relatively minor in terms of their capacity to be life-threatening. Later on we’ll discuss some of the more serious causes which require more immediate attention. Fortunately, most people who suffer from upper body sweating at night fall into this category of benign causes.
We also included in this category some common sense things such as menopause and pregnancy in women, general cold or flu symptoms, poor air circulation in the bedroom, too many blankets on the bed, consumption of caffeine or spicy foods before bedtime, etc.
If your night sweats seem to have started suddenly and you find that you don’t have a problem during the daylight hours, first consider one of these common sense causes. Think about any changes you may have made in your sleeping arrangements or diet for example, as these may be confusing factors. If you can identify some possibilities, then change those circumstances back to what they were prior to the night sweats, you might be able to solve your problem with relative ease. If not, you may have to see your doctor.
Upper Body Sweating at Night – More Serious Costs
There are, unfortunately, some more serious conditions that can cause night sweats and should be dealt with immediately. While the vast majority of sufferers will not be included in this category, it is worth consulting your doctor if you think any of these things may even be a remote possibility. Topping the list are tuberculosis and lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic cells), which are both rare causes of night sweats. Nonetheless, if either one of these is the cause it could be fatal. Other more serious causes include:
- HIV infection
- leukemia
- lung abscesses
- pneumonia
- infectious mononucleosis
Upper Body Sweating at Night – Treatment Options
If the cause of your upper body sweating at night is one of the more serious conditions it will be treated along with the condition itself. If the cause is one of the previously mentioned the benign issues, you may treat it by addressing the conditions surrounding it. The only exception to this would be some forms of hyperhidrosis which unfortunately, you may just have to live with.
If you and your doctor determine there’s no way to prevent you from sweating excessively you can purchase specially made night clothing that does a very good job of absorbing the perspiration and keeping it away from your skin. You can also purchase special sheets and blankets which will accomplish the same thing. Finally, there are herbal remedies such as Sage tea which may not completely eliminate perspiration, but will help make it more tolerable. For people suffering from upper body sweating at night, good management may be the best you can do.
