Does anyone else here ever experience "night sweats"? I've noticed that lately it's been happening to me more and more often. I wake up and the sheets are damp and cold. It's a pretty uncomfortable feeling and I usually have to put on a t-shirt to get back to sleep. I don't think it's being caused by nightmares; well, none that I can remember anyway. I go to sleep at about 2 most nights and when they occur, the night sweats usually happen around 4 or 5. It isn't because of too many blankets either, because most nights I sleep just fine. It's weird. Also, I know the temptation is great, but please refrain from making too many lame bed-wetting or wet dream jokes.
<font face="verdana, geneva, helvetica" SIZE="2"> <!-- BEGIN ARTICLE CONTENT --> <P> Night sweats isn't really a sleep disorder, but there's no doubt that waking up with night clothes and bedding soaked with perspiration does disturb sleep. this is one of my most popular topics. I receive mail and forum submissions often about it. Let's take a look at the basics. <P> <b>SYMPTOMS</b> <P> <UL><LI><b>damp and clammy bedding.</b> You wake up to find your bedding soaked. You either feel too hot or clammily cold.<BR> </ul> <P> <b>CAUSES</b> <P><ul> <LI><b>Menopause or Andropause.</b> Menopause in women is the most common cause of night sweats. However, some men also suffer from night sweats during the male menopause, or andropause. <br> <li><b>HIV, tuberculosis. </b> In fact, any infectious disease or condition that brings on a fever can cause night sweats.<br> <li><B>Diabetes </b> Diabetes can also cause night sweats.<br> <li><B>Sleep apnea.</b> This is the one that most concerns us. Night sweats can also be a sign of sleep apnea. If you also suffer from severe snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, it might be time for a sleep study. <li><b>Alcohol, some drugs, spicy foods. </b> Consumption of any of these can cause night sweats. And by drugs, I'm not necessarily referring to street drugs. Some prescription drugs, like Zoloft, can also cause night sweats. </ul> <P> <b>METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS</b> <P><UL> <li><b>Personal observation.</b> Do you wake up from a sound sleep with bedding and nightclothes damp with sweat? Then you have had a night sweat.<br> </ul> <P> <b>TREATMENT</b> <P><ul> <li><b>Determine the cause.</b> As you can see by the list under causes, these are many and varied. Night sweats are not a sleep disorder but more accurately, a symptom of some underlying condition. Talk to your doctor. <br> <LI><B>Change of lifestyle.</B> Avoid alcohol and spicy foods. Talk to your doctor about medications you're taking to see if they could be the cause. <LI><B>Sleep in a cool room.</B> If weather permits, leave the window open, or try using a fan. <LI><B>Take a shower.</b> A cold shower before bed might prevent an attack of night sweats. <LI><B>Ask your doctor about a sleep study.</B> If you suffer from any other symptoms of sleep apnea, a sleep study might be in order. </UL> <P> <B>HOW TO COPE</b> <UL> <LI><B> Get up.</B> Take a cool shower or sponge bath. <LI><B>Clean up.</b> Change your bedding. Put on fresh nightwear. <LI><B>Have a cold drink.</b> Drink a glass of water, fruit juice or milk. <P></ul> For More on Night Sweats, check out my <a href="/cs/sweats/"><b>Night Sweats Articles and Links.</b></a><P> <!-- END ARTICLE CONTENT -->
Menopause would explain the cramps in my ovaries. Hmm.. Spicy foods could be the culprit. I eat hot sauce on just about everything.
This place will never cease to surprise and amaze me. Somehow, I have the image of Pole on a 1st date with some fairly foxy woman (maybe she liked the name). Anyway, all goes well until.. "Hey, did I ever tell you about my passion for the topic of 'night sweats'?" "Uh, well, no." "Please, allow me to elaborate. First, I need to set up a projection screen for my power point presentation. ... Waiter!"
Oooops....I forgot to post the link at the top. Needless to say, that's not MY most popular topic. That is someone else's favorite topic. My current most popular topic is how I want to buy some reggiano dairy cattle, buy some land north of Victoria (not Texas), and start making cheese. How does "Vancouver Island Artisinal Cheese" sound? I imagine I might have shared a little too much of this idea with my wife. She just humours me with a "you're ****ing nuts" grin on her face.
