Sleep hyperhidrosis
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| 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 if the patient sleeps in the nude, due to damp sheets.[citation needed]
One of the most common causes of night sweats in women over 40 is the hormonal changes related to menopause and perimenopause. 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.[citation needed]
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’.[1]
True night sweats with medical causes should be properly investigated by a physician. 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:
- Steinerosis
- Brucellosis
- Cancer, Leukemia or Lymphoma
- Cerebral palsy
- Cerebral and brain stem strokes
- Epilepsy
- Familial dysautonomia
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Head injury
- HIV
- Hypoglycaemia (Chromium deficiency)
- Hypothalamic lesions
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Influenza
- Menopause
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary histoplasmosis
- Subacute endocarditis
- Tuberculosis
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Lyme Disease
- 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]
