Night sweats are a common symptom of many diseases. Of course, it may not always be a sign of an illness - it is enough just to adjust the temperature in the room that is optimal for a person. But what if the reason is not in the microclimate? The answer to this question was given to the MIR 24 correspondent by doctors.
Excessive sweating at night can cause serious cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, ischemia, thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction, rheumatism, says Oleg Volkov, cardiologist, medical director of Angioline.
So the body reflects on a stressful situation and activates the autonomic nervous system to combat the disease: muscles tighten, breathing quickens, body stickiness appears, sweat appears on the palms and soles, in the axillary and groin areas. Since increased hyperhidrosis also indicates other diseases, it is important to correctly diagnose the pathology. This will require extensive diagnostics of the body. It is necessary to undergo ultrasound, electrocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.
In addition, night sweats can have such a psychological factor as a sign of depression. Possible side effects from the use of antidepressants, opiates, hormone replacement drugs, dietary supplements with zinc and iron.
“To establish a more precise cause, a medical examination should be carried out. Since this symptom is not specific, it can signal viral, endocrine, infectious diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis. But with tuberculosis, in addition to sweating, patients have a cough, weight loss and fever. Practically all patients suffering from pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, pleurisy, infectious mononucleosis, gastroesophageal reflux, lung abscess, obstructive apnea syndrome, Parkinson's disease have severe sweating,”says therapist Andrey Kondrakhin.
Andrei Kondrakhin notes that it is impossible to artificially bring down the temperature. At high temperatures, there is also a lot of sweating, and this is the struggle of the body. In any case, in order to effectively cure, you need to consult with your doctor, who will make a list of treatment based on the individual characteristics of the person. In addition, given the current pandemic, medical checks should not be neglected, as COVID-19 can be “encrypted” for a common cold.
Night sweats in children (especially in the back of the head) may indicate vitamin D deficiency. It may also indicate congenital heart disease or cerebral palsy. Night sweats are a fairly common cause of night sweats in children between the ages of three and 12. According to Andrei Kondrakhin, in addition to the listed diseases, night sweats occur in patients with diabetes mellitus, but in addition to this, the patient has weakness, a feeling of hunger. If night sweats are systematic (chronic), you should undergo a medical examination, otherwise it can be eliminated on your own: ventilate the room at least twice a day, give up antidepressants, go to bed in cool clothes, reduce your consumption of lemonades and maintain a calm mood.
“To reduce night sweats in case of confirmed problems with the cardiovascular system, it is necessary to take a shower regularly, establish a balanced diet, not overload the body with excessive physical activity, avoid stress and take medications according to the prescribed prescription,” advises Oleg Volkov.