Definition of Night Sweats
Night sweats: Severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. Night sweats can have many different causes, including medications, infections, and cancers.
SOURCE:
MedTerms
![]() Night SweatsMedical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Night Sweats OverviewDoctors in primary care fields often hear their patients complain of night sweats. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is fairly common. Night Sweats CausesNight sweating can arise from harmless situations or serious disease. If your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep - and this is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, and that are not related to an overheated environment. It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard to distinguish from true night sweats. There are many different causes of night sweats. Some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats are:
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Viewer Comments & ReviewsNight Sweats - Describe Your ExperienceThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:Please describe your experience with night sweats. Night Sweats In Women - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was your treatment for night sweats? |
Night sweats: Severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. Night sweats can have many different causes, including medications, infections, and cancers.
SOURCE:
MedTerms
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Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an unusual lymphoma that can manifest with constitutional symptoms (eg, fever, weight loss, night sweats) termed B-type symptoms.