Reasons why you wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat

Waking up sweating in the middle of the night is quite common. The problem is when it happens often, or always.

Surely it has happened to you. You wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning, and discover that you’re sweating profusely even though it’s not hot. Or maybe you notice when you wake up in the morning.

It may be due to a condition called idiopathic hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating in the hands, feet, armpits and head. She is of unknown cause and is not motivated by illness. It is cured by an operation, but in most cases it is only an aesthetic problem.

If there is a secondary cause of excessive sweating, it is called hyperhidrosis to dry. It can be due to many reasons, some temporary, others minor, and also serious. Let’s see what the doctors say.

First of all, it must be said that it is considered normal to have a bad night once in a while, and wake up drenched in sweat. It can happen due to a nightmare, a bad dinner, or a stomach virus. The problem is when hyperhidrosis appears frequently, or every day.

the medical website ActiveBeat has identified a few causes. We have grouped them in order of importance.

Temporary reasons

On many occasions, excessive sweating is due to a specific reason, and when we eliminate that cause, or it passes on its own, hyperhidrosis disappears.

For example, a very common cause is menopause in women, which produces “hot flashes” both during the day and at night. And eye, there is a “male menopause“Motivated by a drop in testosterone, where there is an excess of sweating. In both cases it is corrected when the hormones stabilize.

The pregnancy also generates episodes of this type, but they are considered normal due to the hormonal changes that occur.

Another temporary cause is certain medications whose side effect is excessive sweating. It will disappear when we stop taking them.

Like the drugs, alcohol consumption can cause hyperhidrosis. And if it is an alcoholic or a person who drinks every day, it can happen frequently.

Mild or normal reasons

Hypoglycemic people, with drop in sugar levels, or those who take too strong a dose of anti-diabetes medication, may suffer from excessive sweating.

Anxiety also falls into this group. If we have excessive stress and worry, it can cause nocturnal hyperhidrosis.

certain kind of bacterial infectionsas the BrucellosisThey cause sweating at night. They are resistant bacteria that can take months to disappear, so the condition can last for a while.

serious reasons

There are more serious conditions that cause excessive sweating. For example, him hyperthyroidisma condition where the thyroid secretes an excess of hormones, which cause sweating at night.

we have to talk about certain types of cancerlike some lymphomas and leukemias, according to the Mayo Clinic. But they are a small percentage, with respect to the previous causes.

Other important problems that cause hyperhidrosis are certain nerve injuries, autoimmune disorders where your antibodies attack healthy cells, and the obesity.

If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, in most cases the ailments are treatable and controllable. Consult your doctor to find the specific cause.