Night Sweat and when to see your GP

What doctors mean by night sweats

Night sweats refer to repeated episodes of heavy sweating during sleep that soak clothing or bedding, even when your bedroom temperature is comfortable. They are different from feeling warm overnight or sweating because of extra blankets. True night sweats usually wake you from sleep and persist despite reasonable cooling measures.

Why night sweats can occur

Sweating is part of your body’s temperature-control system. Night sweats occur when this system becomes overactive or poorly regulated during sleep. Triggers range from hormonal changes and medications to infections, sleep disruption, and conditions affecting metabolism or the immune system. In many people, several factors overlap rather than one single cause.

Common and often benign explanations

Hormonal changes are a frequent reason. Perimenopause and menopause commonly cause night sweats, often alongside hot flushes, sleep disturbance, or mood changes. Some medicines, including antidepressants, hormone treatments, and fever-reducing drugs, can also trigger sweating at night. Stress, anxiety, vivid dreams, and disrupted sleep patterns may activate sweating without underlying disease.

When illness may play a role

Night sweats can sometimes accompany infections or inflammatory conditions, particularly when the immune system is active overnight. They may occur with fever, fatigue, cough, weight change, or a general sense of being unwell. More serious causes are uncommon, but they matter because early assessment improves outcomes when treatment is needed.

Patterns that should prompt GP review

Seeing your GP is important if night sweats are frequent, severe, or ongoing for several weeks. Additional features such as unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, swollen glands, ongoing cough, or significant tiredness deserve timely assessment. Night sweats that disrupt sleep and affect daytime functioning also warrant review, even if no other symptoms are present.

How your GP approaches assessment

Your GP considers night sweats in context rather than isolation. This includes your age, hormonal stage, medication history, recent infections, travel, stress levels, and other symptoms. A focused examination and targeted tests may be suggested to rule out treatable causes or to provide reassurance when serious illness is unlikely.

Why early discussion helps

Many people delay mentioning night sweats because they feel vague or embarrassing. In practice, they are a useful clinical clue. Early GP review allows medication effects to be addressed, common causes to be managed, and more significant conditions to be identified sooner if present.

This article provides general health information only and does not replace medical advice. Please speak with your GP for personalised care.