Authored by Jayant Row in Men’s Health 
Published on 05-07-2009

There is a medical term for night sweating and it is called hyperhidrosis. Treatments are available for this and your medical consultant would be the best guide. It is said that night sweating is a result of imbalance in the hormones caused in men by the onset of andropause, which is actually menopause in men. This condition normally adjusts itself as soon as the levels of testosterone and other male hormones stabilize. Hyperhidrosis is also said to be caused by stress or what experts call ‘sympathetic over activity’.

The problem seems to affect men after the age of forty or even a little later. One of the first things to do, once you find this problem occurring, is to use lighter pajamas when you sleep and equally comfortable bed linen. Keep the temperature in the room lower by just keeping the windows open. If the problem does not sort it self out you could go in for medical advice. You also need to limit your caffeine intake. Cut out those alcoholic drinks and take some water just before you sleep. A shower before going to bed can also help.

Night sweating can indicate a more serious medical problem. Tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes and even the dreaded HIV can cause night sweating. A visit to the doctor will almost certainly have you going through a battery of tests to eliminate the possibility of these diseases. Night sweating is also sometimes caused by the body reacting to a minor infection. It could also sometimes be the result of sleep apnea. In this condition the person so affected stops breathing for a time and the night sweat is the body’s response to this condition. This causes the person to wake up and resume his normal breathing pattern.

Night sweating can also be the result of old age and just an indication of changes in the body due to the aging process. Whatever the reason, if the condition persists, it is always better to seek a medical intervention.

There are a few techniques that can greatly reduce the discomfort cause by night sweating. See that you exercise daily. It could be a walk, swimming, cycling or even dancing. This routine can cause the pores of the skin to be constantly open and this it self can reduce sweating. See that your bedroom is always cooler than the rest of the house and that you always use very light clothing when you are sleeping. Deep breathing for at least a quarter of an hour every morning and evening is known to help reduce night sweating. Alternative therapies that can be considered are acupuncture, though the efficacy of this is not proven.

There are also herbs and supplements that have been used in the fight against night sweating but these are limited in success. Soy products are recommended and have been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Black cohosh and flax seeds are also said to help.

Antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride are recommended for use, though this can cause irritation in some cases. Doctors also suggest injections of botulinum toxin to disable the sweat glands. The effects of these injections last for a couple of months.