When Should I Worry About Night Sweats?

Depending on the weather and even your hormonal state, it can be completely normal to sweat at night.

In fact, the NHS said on its site, “Most people sweat during the night”.

Still, sometimes, it’s worth speaking to your doctor about it. Night sweats can be a symptom of menopause, low blood sugar, autoimmune disorders, thyroid issues, and more, per the Mayo Clinic.

And Dr Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist and medical director of the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, said, “During hot weather, almost everyone will experience warmer and more uncomfortable nights.

“That makes it very easy to overlook a symptom that might otherwise have prompted concern,” as it can rarely signal cancer.

Dr Kubes said that context and frequency matter here – sweating for one or two nights during a heatwave, for instance, might not be much to worry about.

“However, if unexplained night sweats continue regularly for more than two or three weeks, it would be sensible to arrange an appointment with your GP,” he said.

“People should seek advice sooner if the sweating is severe or appears alongside other concerning symptoms. You do not need to wait several weeks if you are feeling significantly unwell.”

The NHS agrees that you should see your doctor if night sweats happen “regularly”, if they wake you up, and/or if they worry you.

The extent of the sweating could say a lot, too – “If the room is cool but you are repeatedly waking with your pyjamas and bedding soaked through, that is different from simply feeling clammy on a hot night”.

Drenching night sweats have been linked to certain blood cancers, particularly lymphoma.

Night sweats that are “accompanied by unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, recurring fevers or a painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin should be discussed with a doctor,” Dr Kubes shared.

Other warning signs include:

• painless lumps or swellings that do not settle,
• unexplained itching,
• breathlessness,
• persistent coughing,
• unusual bruising,
• infections that keep returning.

The oncologist stressed that most people with night sweats won’t have cancer, adding that swollen lymph nodes happen all the time due to illness and tiredness is common, too.

“These symptoms alone cannot provide a diagnosis. An overactive thyroid, for example, is a relatively common and treatable condition that can be identified through testing,” he ended.

“The message is not to panic after a couple of hot nights. It is to recognise a persistent and unexplained change, particularly when other warning signs are present.

“Do not simply wait for the weather to cool if the sweating is severe, keeps returning or is accompanied by other symptoms. A conversation with your GP can help establish whether further checks are needed.”