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4 Reasons on What Causes Night Sweats in Men
5 min read
5 min read
Typically, night sweats are caused by the easily perceivable — your room is too hot, or your blanket is too heavy.
However, if you’re sure your bedding or room temp isn’t the culprit, here are some other causes of night sweats and ways you can help correct it.
How To Know if You Have Night Sweats
Everyone tends to sweat a little when they sleep, but true night sweats are much more apparent. If you’re waking up because your sheets are drenched and you have to change your clothes and sheets, then you could be having a troublesome case of night sweats.
To double-check if you have night sweats, ensure your room is plenty cool and that you sleep in breathable nightwear and bedding. If symptoms persist, your sweating episodes may be caused by an underlying condition.
What Causes Night Sweats In Men?
Night sweats affect both men and women; in fact, over 15 million people in the U.S. report symptoms of excessive sweating at night. Night sweats are common in women due to hormone imbalances or symptoms from menopause (hot flashes).
However, that’s not to say men have a get-out-of-jail-free card. Men can have hormone imbalances too, but there are tons of other reasons you may be longing for a good night's rest due to your overactive adrenal glands.
Reason 1. Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can be followed by tons of inconvenient symptoms and side effects, night sweats being one of them.
Long or short-term stress may result in sweat glands becoming more responsive. Looking back to when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, that clammy and sweaty feeling usually follows not long after.
Severe anxiety or stress is usually accompanied by
- High heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Aches and pains
Possible Solution:
Stress and anxiety are commonly caused by factors that are out of your control. Some people experience mild cases, while others have severe anxiety disorders. If you have an anxiety disorder, it’s best to contact a professional for help. With that being said, that’s not to say there aren’t several valuable ways to help cope with the stressors of life.
Personal care is critical, and while it might be easily pushed to the back burner with work, personal life, and family taking precedence, it may be time for a change.
Personal care can start with something as small as a morning walk or evening stroll — take time to yourself to unwind. Even if you’re not an at-home spa-night kind of guy now, you might change your mind after giving it a try. Consider taking time every night to pamper yourself; it’ll surely leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed — all in time for a great night's rest.
Reason 2. Medication Side Effects
When taking any medication, side effects will surely be a part of it. Night sweats are a common side effect caused by tons of medicines like antidepressants. This is because most medications will affect your sweat glands sensitivity and sometimes body temperature.
Possible Solution: Medications always have side effects, so treating the side effects of a medication you’re taking for a prior issue can be tricky. Your best bet would be to talk with your doctor to see if there's anything they suggest. They may be able to lower your dosage or change your prescription.
Reason 3. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
More men have sleep apnea than women. There are many possible reasons behind this finding, including weight, hormone differences, upper airway anatomy, and aging all play key factors. If you experience a stuffy or bloody nose, this may be another sign you’re struggling with sleep apnea — read this article on how to get blood out of your sheets.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes your body to be woken up by the loss of airway flow — you stop breathing in the middle of your sleep. Around 30% of men who experience night sweats also have sleep apnea.
When your body experiences sleep apnea, it can spike your cortisol levels. Since cortisol is a stress hormone, it tricks your body into thinking of working out, hence the excessive preparation
Possible Solution:
A doctor or sleep specialist should officially diagnose sleep apnea. Once diagnosed, you’ll be given a few possible treatment plans.
- Weight loss (if needed)
- No alcohol
- Frequently exercising
- CPAP machine. A CPAP machine is a breathing device that will keep airflow throughout the whole night. These are only prescribed for bad cases of sleep apnea after all other treatments don’t merit the desired results.
Reason 4. Low Testosterone
Like when women experience night sweats because of hormonal changes like menopause, men's hormones can also affect their sweat glands.
Low testosterone levels can cause night sweats. Age can play a role in your testosterone levels, but sometimes levels are considered low regardless of age.
You may have low testosterone levels if you’re experiencing:
- Low sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Mood swings
- Low energy
- Fatigue
Low testosterone can affect much more than your sweat glands and, in some cases, can be dangerous. Testosterone is a vital hormone that must be at an average level for your body to function correctly.
Possible Solution:
The solution to your low testosterone will most likely be at a doctor's office. If you think you have low testosterone, request a blood test; this will give you more answers.
Besides small lifestyle changes (like getting better sleep), once your levels dip below a certain point, your doctor will probably suggest a type of hormone therapy or replacement. Shots and patches are common forms of this.
Other Ways To Get Better Sleep
Getting your night sweats in check is just one way to ensure you get the quality sleep your body needs.
Luckily, there are tons of other ways you can keep yourself cool and comfortable (even if you’re enduring night sweats):
Implement a Consistent Sleep Schedule
You can expect to get better sleep if you have a consistent sleep schedule. Keep electronics (especially those that emit blue light) out of your bedroom. Try to optimize your circadian rhythms by rising with natural light whenever possible.
Watch Your Diet
Your diet plays a significant role in how well you sleep. Stick to healthy, clean foods when you can; it may result in you getting great sleep — despite your night sweats. Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and spicy foods before bedtime.
Revamp Your Bedding
Convinced your bedding isn’t the issue? Sometimes it seems like your sheets and comforter are plenty breathable when in actuality, you can do much better.
You don’t know quality sleep until you’ve tried Temperature Regulating Sheets and Comforters. The technology behind bedding has come a long way — silver-infused antimicrobial Supima cotton bedding is thermo-regulating and can help encourage a full night’s sleep.
Hello Restful Slumber
A night of restful slumber is just around the corner; all that’s left to do is make some minor tweaks before you hit the sheets.
Sources:
Low Testosterone (Low T): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic- Nocturnal sweating—a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea: the Icelandic sleep apnoea cohort | BMJ Open
- Gender Differences in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Treatment Implications | PMC
- Night Sweats: A Systematic Review of the Literature | American Board of Family Medicine
- 6 reasons why men get night sweats and how to treat them | Insider
- CPAP Machine: What It Is, How It Works, Pros & Cons | Cleveland Clinic
