Night sweats are a common complaint experienced by many individuals. One report of over 2,000 patients visiting a primary care physician found that over 40% of adults experienced night sweats at least once a month, with even high rates found in women and men 41 to 55 years old. Night sweats specifically refer to excessive sweating that occurs during sleep. But could this basic symptom be a sign of a more prominent condition?

The short answer is yes. The human body is equipped with the ability to regulate temperature with extreme precision regardless of changes in environmental conditions. This mechanism, however, can be disrupted by many factors ranging from illness, cancer or changes in hormones.  Hormones fluctuate with normal aging and can cause hot flashes or night sweats.

Levels of the male sex hormone testosterone drop overtime, which can also alter temperature regulation resulting in night sweats. Andropause or male menopause, mostly affects men over 40.  Other symptoms of andropause include fatigue, weakness, sexual problems and weight gain. Talk to your physician if you’re experiencing these symptoms; they might take a blood test to look at your testosterone levels and if you have low testosterone, replacement therapy can help relieve these symptoms.

Male menopause, or andropause is different from female menopause in that female menopause occurs when the production of female hormones drops suddenly. Andropause, on the other hand, is a gradual decline in hormone levels. The ovaries run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. This does not happen with the testicles.

While many of the causes of night sweats are nothing to worry about there are some more serious etiologies. For instance, night sweats, weight loss and fever together can indicate for cancer or infection, such as tuberculosis or HIV.  If you begin to experience night sweats on a regular basis, you should talk with your physician about your symptoms.

Furthermore, some of the medications used to treat prostate cancer can cause night sweats as a side effect.  To help cope with these symptoms you should ensure that your night sweats are not related to your sleep environment.  Additionally, keep a glass of ice water by your bed; if you start feeling an attack, taking a sip can help halt the progression of symptoms.  Lastly, remain cognizant of potential triggers of night sweats. For instance, some find that spicy food can trigger particularly bad episodes, avoiding these trigger can reduce the number of attack you experience.