Night sweats

Sleep hyperhidrosis

ICD-10	R61.9
ICD-9	780.8, 327

Sleep hyperhidrosis, more commonly known as the night sweats, is the occurrence of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) during sleep. The sufferer may or may not also suffer from excessive perspiration while awake. Sleep hyperhidrosis may occur at any age, but is most commonly seen in early adulthood.^{[citation needed]}

Night sweats may occur for genetic reasons and may be relatively harmless. However, they can be distressing and disrupt sleep patterns if severe; the patient may be frequently awakened due to the discomfort of damp sleepwear or bedding.^{[citation needed]}

One of the most common causes of night sweats in women over 40 is the hormonal changes related to menopause and perimenopause.^[1] This is a very common occurrence during the menopause transition years and while annoying, it is not necessarily dangerous or a sign of underlying disease. Some women experience night sweats during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.^{[citation needed]}

While some causes of night sweats may be relatively harmless, others may not and can be a sign of a serious underlying disease. While there can be several possible causes of excessive sweating at night, it is important to distinguish night sweats due to medical causes from those that occur simply because the sleep environment is too warm, either because the bedroom is unusually hot or because there are too many covers on the bed. A night sweat caused by a medical condition or infection can be described as ‘severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment’.^[2] Some of the underlying medical conditions and infections that cause these severe night sweats can be life-threatening and should promptly be investigated by a medical practitioner.

There are many ways to help relieve night sweats. By keeping a cool glass of water on the night stand and wearing moisture-wicking pajamas, many people suffering from night sweats have found relief.

Associated conditions

The condition may be a sign of various disease states, including:

• Acrodynia (childhood mercury poisoning)^{[citation needed]}
• Anorexia Nervosa (in-patient treatment starts it & edema)^{[citation needed]}
• Brucellosis^{[citation needed]}
• Leukemia or Lymphoma^[3]
• Cerebral palsy^{[citation needed]}
• Cerebral and brain stem strokes^{[citation needed]}
• Epilepsy^{[citation needed]}
• Familial dysautonomia^{[citation needed]}
• Fibromyalgia
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease^{[citation needed]}
• Head injury^{[citation needed]}
• HIV^[4]
• Hypoglycaemia (Chromium deficiency)^{[citation needed]}
• Hypothalamic lesions^{[citation needed]}
• Infectious Mononucleosis^{[citation needed]}
• Influenza^{[citation needed]}
• Lymphoma^{[citation needed]}
• Menopause^{[citation needed]}
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea^{[citation needed]}
• Posttraumatic stress disorder^{[citation needed]}
• Pneumonia^{[citation needed]}
• Pulmonary histoplasmosis^{[citation needed]}
• Sarcoidosis^{[citation needed]}
• Subacute endocarditis^{[citation needed]}
• Tuberculosis^[3]
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome^{[citation needed]}
• Lyme Disease^{[citation needed]}
• Urinary tract infection^{[citation needed]}

Certain medications, anti-depressants (such as sertraline) have also been known to cause night sweats in some individuals. Another cause could be withdrawal from various drugs (opiates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, etc.).^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ T. F. Kruger; M. H. Botha (5 September 2008). Clinical Gynaecology. Juta and Company Ltd. pp. 333–. ISBN 9780702173059. http://books.google.com/books?id=mEsPakNJWZYC&pg=PA333. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
2. ^ http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=57394
3. ^ ^{a b} Jonathan E. Teitelbaum; Kathleen O. DeAntonis; Scott Kahan (1 June 2004). In a page: Pediatric signs & symptoms. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 6–. ISBN 9781405104272. http://books.google.com/books?id=eugGYG5sfN0C&pg=PA6. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
4. ^ Tao Le; Vikas Bhushan (13 July 2006). First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CS. McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 74–. ISBN 9780071470582. http://books.google.com/books?id=xvrM1qV9BiMC&pg=PA74. Retrieved 23 June 2011.