Extreme Night Sweats

There are a number of biological reasons for night sweating in women. The most common cause is hormones. The brains temperature regulator, the hypothalamus, is affected by changes in estrogen levels. Low levels will have it thinking the body is too hot; this causes the body to sweat to bring down the temperature. Estrogen level related night sweats occur during the first trimester of pregnancy, peri-menopause, menopause, and can occur right before you get your period.

Sweating during sleep may also be caused by some type of infection, your body stops sweating to increase your internal temperature and fight off any invading viruses or bacteria. Diabetes, chronic fatigue, pneumonia and lymphoma may also lead to night sweats. Keep in mind, there is a difference between sweating while sleeping, and drenching your bed with night sweats.

If your child suffers from night sweats you should seek professional help. Generally, if your child is not piling on the blankets or pajamas, night sweats in children is indicative of a more serious, underlying problem. Gastro esophageal reflux disease could be the cause. An overactive thyroid will have a child sweating profusely while they sleep, almost to the point of dehydration. If the child has been ill, and has had a high fever, they will sweat quite a bit when the fever breaks. Sweating occurs in this case when the body opens the pores, allowing the temperature to drop, either because the invading cells have been destroyed, or the need to lower body temperature before causing damage. Cerebral palsy, tuberculosis, cancer, and some auto immune disorders will also bring about night sweats.

For the most part, severe sweating at night in women is almost normal, it may create problems due to lack of sleep, but generally they are merely hormone issues. In children, however, they could be a symptom, and early warning, that something is amiss.

Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD , Night Sweats, Medicinenet.com