Reasons for Night Sweats In Men

Waking up with soaked pajamas and sheets due to perspiration can be a startling experience. These are called night sweats or nocturnal hyperhidrosis.  No matter what you call it, it is not normal in men.  Night sweats can be the signs of a potentially deadly infection or of a chronic health condition.  Not all diagnosis will be so dire, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis

This diagnosis sounds more frightening than it really is.  For an unknown reason, a man’s body may break out into a heavy sweat.  This is embarrassing and inconvenient, but not life-threatening.

Infections

Night sweats can be the symptom of a deep-seated infection from a seemingly harmless break in the skin, such as a scratch or injection.  Check the injured site for pain, swelling, redness or leakage of fluids.  Infections of internal organs like the kidneys may also cause night sweats, pain and fever.

Tuberculosis

This is a potentially deadly infection caused by bacteria.  The body raises its temperature in an attempt to kill the bacteria.  Men with tuberculosis usually show other symptoms along with night sweats, including cough, fever, problems breathing, chest pain and sudden weight loss.  Infants, babies and elderly men are most prone to tuberculosis.

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid gland can cause a variety of bizarre symptoms in men, including sudden perspiration.  A malfunctioning thyroid gland usually cannot be prevented but can often be easily treated.  Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include insomnia, rapid heartbeat, uncontrollable tremors, diarrhea and a sudden increase in appetite often paired with unexplained weight loss.

Stroke

Nocturnal sweating is a rare symptom of a stroke.  Strokes are when the brain suddenly lacks enough blood to keep functioning.  There is also condition called trans ischemic attack or TIA where men experience symptoms for less than a hour or even just a few minutes.  Many men wrongly assume that when the symptoms go away, so does any danger.  Anyone experiencing a TIA has a high risk of suffering a full-blown stroke within 24 hours.

Hodgkin’s Disease

Also called Hodgkin’s lymphoma, this is a potentially deadly form of cancer.  Usually men suffering from Hodgkin’s disease also show other symptoms like swollen lymph glands, fever, itchy skin or feeling exhausted all of the time.  Occasionally night sweats are the only symptom until more serious symptoms develop. 

Medication or Niacin Side Effect

Excessive perspiration during sleep is a rare but treatable side effect of some medications like antidepressants.  Men taking supplemental doses of dietary vitamin B3 or niacin may also wake up drenched in sweat.  Medications known to cause nocturnal hyperhidrosis include but are not limited to:

• ·         Donezepil (brand name Aricpet) a dementia drug
• ·         Aripiprazle (brand name Aricept), an antidepressant
• ·         Indinavir (brand name Crixivir) a drug for HIV
• ·         Cyclosporine (brand name Neoral) a drug used to help patients adjust to organ transplants
• ·         Daclizumab (brand name Zenapax), used like cyclosporine.
• ·         Interferon alpha-2a (brand name Roferon), used to treat serious immune disorders like AIDS or hepatitis C.

Never suddenly stop medication because this can cause even more problems than nocturnal hyperhidrosis.  Talk to a medical professional about alternatives such as cutting back on dosages.

Image of sweating man by Dogbertio 14 for Wikimedia Commons