I Gots A Question: Night Sweats
I’m writing this for personal insights into the numerous questions that plague me throughout the day that have no relevance or merit in daily life. These questions can be related to me personally or just a random thought. There is no rhyme or reason for this- it is, in essence, a stream of consciousness with factual data and information supporting it. To clarify, since these questions were from my mind, a woman’s mind, my research is geared toward women because this stream of consciousness is, at its most fundamental reason, answers for me.
For context, I started this question list on my phone’s notes app months ago when I was trying to fall asleep one night and I just had question after question pop into my head. I had no energy to actually research the answers to my perpetual questions, so I typed the questions out instead, with plans to answer them the next day. But I forgot (typical!). Then the next night came and, with it, more ceaseless questioning from my subconscious; though I suppose it was better that they were mundane questions circling my mind, rather than incessant derogatory or self-diminishing remarks.
Side note: If I remember or have the context in which the questions were spurred from, I’ll intro the question with it (story time!).
(Cue the Stephanie Soo-esque segue) With that said, let’s begin.
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Night Sweats: How does it know it’s nighttime?
Okay, I should preface this with the context that I was definitely (legally) under the influence when I pondered this, but I think the train of thought is still valid- what are the causes of night sweats?
Night sweats, according to the Mayo Clinic, “are repeated episodes of very heavy sweating during sleep” (Mayo Clinic, 2024). This is not a normal “I forgot to turn on the fan before I got in bed, but now I’m too comfortable to get up and will suffer under my cozy blanket all night” type of sweating. The medical condition of night sweats is usually caused by some underlying syndrome or illness that causes sweat “heavy enough to soak nightclothes or bedding” (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
Suffice to say, I suffered from night sweats. I would wake up in the middle of the night sometimes absolutely soaked from sweat from the nape of my neck to the back of my knees. It genuinely made me feel stinky. And I am a nighttime shower type of person. So, to get all clean, get into bed, and wake up in the middle of night coated in sweat… Not ideal.
Back to the question at hand: what causes night sweats? Apparently, a lot of different things. Medications, like antidepressants, antianxiety, hormone therapy, methadone, and low blood sugar agents can cause night sweats as a side effect (Mayo Clinic, 2024). Also underlying conditions such as autonomic disorders, autoimmune disorders, infections, addictions, tumors, and cancers can have night sweats as a symptom (Mayo Clinic, 2024). Apparently, night sweats are so common or prevalent that these are only some of the things that can cause them. Mayo Clinic even has a note on their webpage for this condition that these are just the most common causes, but to work with your physician to see what is causing your specific condition.
Personally, I attribute my night sweats to my mental wellbeing medications antidepressants, antianxiety pills, and high blood pressure medication, which all have side effects of night sweats and/or heat intolerance. Have I heeded the note from Mayo urging a doctor diagnosis for my night sweats? Of course not, I’m an American Millennial- I use the internet for that. I search all my medication names and side effects and up pops a summarized list of everything I need to know. “Oh, but there’s an information pamphlet that comes with your prescriptions” Baby Boomers always advise me. Which they are correct- prescription medications come with a informational pamphlet with all of the potential side effects and other drug interactions, and maybe even the entire discography of Abba transcribed in it too, given how long the pamphlet is (CVS receipts don’t even compare to the prescription pamphlet sizes). So, in an effort to make my life easier, I search the internet with my specific questions. Some Boomers call it ‘lazy,’ I call it efficient.
Now, do I think everyone should go to the doctor and get professionally diagnosed with actual medical conditions rather than just hypothesizing wildly? Of course. But I deem myself a whimsical pragmatist. So, while I know people should go to the doctor and get diagnosed, I also have an inkling that only some people will (not including me, which makes me a hypocrite, I know). So, my advice to fellow hypocritical, whimsical, chronically ill pragmatists I say this: if you don’t go to the doctor, carefully and extensively research your symptoms and medications. If you are finding conflicting research and are not getting a straight and consistent answer in your search, please please please (okay Sabrina) go to a medical professional so they can run tests and, hopefully, find a resolution to your suffering.
Stay curious!
K
