Night Sweats

Night Sweats: Why They Happen and How to Sleep Cooler

Night sweats are heavy sweating while you sleep. They can soak your clothes and sheets, even when the room is cool. In women in their 40s and 50s, the most common cause is menopause. Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night.

Please note: This page shares general health information in simple words. It is not medical advice. Every body is different, so talk to a doctor or gynaecologist before you try any treatment.

Key Facts About Night Sweats

  • Night sweats are more than feeling a little warm in bed. They can soak your clothes and bedding.

  • Around menopause, they are caused by changing estrogen levels.

  • They can wake you up and leave you tired the next day.

  • Other things can also cause them, like some medicines, anxiety and infections.

  • A cool bedroom and light cotton clothes can help.

  • See a doctor if they keep waking you up or come with fever or weight loss.

What Are Night Sweats?

Night sweats are bouts of heavy sweating during sleep. You may wake up with wet clothes, a wet pillow or damp sheets.

Sweating a little because your room is hot or your blanket is too thick is normal. That is not a night sweat. Night sweats happen even when your room is cool.

During a night sweat you may also:

  • Feel a sudden rush of heat

  • Wake up with a fast heartbeat

  • Feel cold and shivery after the sweating stops

  • Find it hard to fall back asleep

Why Do Night Sweats Happen in Menopause?

Night sweats happen in menopause because estrogen levels drop and change. This makes the part of the brain that controls body heat more sensitive. Even a small rise in body heat can make your body try to cool down fast. It does this by sweating.

Night sweats are the night-time version of hot flashes. Doctors call them both "vasomotor symptoms."

What Else Can Cause Night Sweats?

Menopause is not the only cause. Other causes include:

  • Some medicines, like certain antidepressants, steroids and painkillers

  • Anxiety

  • Low blood sugar

  • Alcohol or drug use

  • A harmless condition that makes some people sweat a lot

  • Infections

Sometimes no cause is found. If you are not near menopause age, it is a good idea to ask a doctor.

How Do Night Sweats Affect Sleep?

Night sweats can wake you up many times in one night. You may need to change your clothes or sheets. Over time, broken sleep can make you feel tired, low or cranky during the day. If poor sleep is a big problem for you, read about menopause sleep problems.

How Can You Stop or Reduce Night Sweats?

You may not be able to stop night sweats fully. But these steps can make nights easier:

  • Keep your bedroom cool and airy.

  • Use a fan near your bed.

  • Wear light, loose cotton nightclothes.

  • Use cotton sheets and a light blanket you can push off.

  • Keep a glass of cold water by your bed.

  • Keep a spare set of nightclothes close by.

  • Avoid spicy food, alcohol, tea and coffee in the evening.

  • Do not smoke.

  • Take a cool shower before bed.

Sirona Cooling Mist for Night-Time Comfort

Some women like a quick cooling spray when they wake up hot. Sirona Cooling Mist is a 100 ml spray made for hot flashes and night sweats. It has peppermint (menthol), eucalyptus oil, aloe vera and cucumber extract. It does not contain hormones.

Keep it by your bed. Hold it 10 to 15 cm from your skin and spray on your face, neck or wrists. The mist gives a cool feeling on the skin. It does not change your hormones or stop night sweats from coming back. Test it on a small patch of skin first and keep it away from your eyes.

What Treatments Can a Doctor Suggest?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for menopause night sweats. It replaces some of the estrogen your body is losing. It is not right for everyone, so a doctor will check your health first. Read more about hormone replacement therapy.

If you cannot take HRT, a doctor may suggest a non-hormonal medicine. If a medicine you already take is causing night sweats, your doctor may change it.

When Should You See a Doctor About Night Sweats?

See a doctor if:

  • You often wake up with soaking wet sheets.

  • Night sweats worry you or affect your daily life.

  • You also have a fever or feel hot, cold and shivery.

  • You also have a cough or loose motions.

  • You are losing weight without trying.

  • You are not near menopause age.

These signs can point to a cause other than menopause. A doctor can check what is going on.

Related Terms

Shop menopause care: Sirona Menopause Collection

Sources

  1. NHS. Night sweats. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/night-sweats/

  2. NHS. Menopause: things you can do. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/things-you-can-do/

  3. Avis NE, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition (SWAN). JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4433164/

  4. NICE. Menopause: identification and management (NG23). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

  5. Sirona Cooling Mist product page (ingredients and directions). https://thesirona.com/products/cooling-mist

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified doctor. It was written by the Sirona Content Team using the trusted medical sources listed above. Always talk to your doctor or gynaecologist about your symptoms and before starting any medicine, supplement or product. If you have heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing or severe pain, get medical help right away.