Last updated: October 2026
Night sweats are when you sweat so much at night that your nightclothes or bedding are soaked. Common reasons are too warm a bedroom or duvet, menopause, anxiety, alcohol, some medicines, infections, low blood sugar, an overactive thyroid or sleep apnoea. See a GP if they’re regular, or come with fever, weight loss, lumps or no obvious cause.
Below: how to tell night sweats from a hot bedroom, a table of the common causes with what to try, night sweats in women, men, older women, pregnancy, after birth and children, and the warning signs that mean you should get checked.
Night sweats or just a hot bedroom?
Most people sweat a bit at night, especially under a heavy duvet or in a warm room. That’s normal. True night sweats are when you wake drenched, sometimes needing to change your sheets or clothes, even though the room and bedding are cool.
A quick test: if you only sweat on warm nights or under the winter duvet, and it stops when you cool the room down, it’s very likely the bedroom rather than your body. If you wake soaked on cool nights too, it’s worth looking for a cause.
Why am I getting night sweats? Common causes and what to try
The NHS lists menopause, anxiety, some medicines, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug use and hyperhidrosis as common causes, and sometimes no cause is found. Infections, an overactive thyroid and sleep apnoea can also cause them. Use the clues to narrow it down.
| Cause | Clues | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Too warm a bedroom or bedding | Hot and sticky rather than drenched; worse on warm nights or under a heavy duvet | Cool the room, use lighter layers. See the best temperature for sleep |
| Menopause and perimenopause | Hot flushes in the day too, changes to your periods, usually from your 40s | Talk to a GP about HRT or CBT. See perimenopause symptoms and hot flushes |
| Anxiety | Racing heart, waking with worry, a stressful period | A calmer wind-down; see a GP if anxiety is affecting daily life. See anxiety at night |
| Alcohol or drugs | After drinking, or when cutting down | Drink less, and not close to bed. See alcohol and sleep and hangxiety |
| Medicines | Started after a new medicine, especially some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers | Don’t stop it yourself. Ask your GP or pharmacist whether an alternative might suit you |
| Low blood sugar | Mainly if you take insulin or diabetes tablets such as gliclazide or glimepiride; shaky or hungry. Rare without diabetes | Tell your GP or diabetes team if you’ve had hypos at night |
| Overactive thyroid | Warm skin and sweating in the day too, feeling the heat, weight loss despite a bigger appetite, fast heartbeat | See a GP for a blood test. See overactive thyroid symptoms |
| Sleep apnoea | Loud snoring, gasping or choking in your sleep, very tired in the day | See a GP, ideally with someone who has seen you sleep. See sleep apnoea |
| Infections | Fever, feeling hot, cold or shivery, cough or diarrhoea | See a GP; get urgent help for the signs in the box below |
| Hyperhidrosis | You sweat heavily all the time, day and night; harmless | A pharmacist or GP can talk you through options |
| Pregnancy, birth and periods | Hormone changes; see the sections below | Talk to your midwife or GP if you’re worried |
Rarely, night sweats can be a sign of a more serious condition. For example, the NHS lists night sweats among the symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, alongside a painless lump or swelling (usually in the neck, armpit or groin), a high temperature and unexplained weight loss. That’s why persistent night sweats with other symptoms should be checked.
Night sweats in women
The most common cause in women in their 40s and 50s is perimenopause and menopause. Hot flushes at night wake many women and break up sleep. HRT is effective for this, and NICE now also recommends CBT for menopause-related sleep problems. Some women also notice night sweats around their period or in pregnancy. See perimenopause and sleep and supplements for menopause, ranked by evidence. Magnesium won’t stop hot flushes; a trial found it worked no better than a placebo.
NICE’s menopause guideline says doctors should offer HRT for hot flushes and sweats, and consider menopause-specific CBT alongside HRT or for women who can’t or prefer not to take it. Where HRT isn’t suitable, NICE recommends a non-hormonal medicine, fezolinetant, as an option for moderate to severe symptoms. It also says there is some evidence for isoflavones and black cohosh, but that their safety is uncertain, products vary and they can interact with other medicines.
Night sweats in older women
Hot flushes and night sweats don’t always stop when your periods do. The NHS says menopause symptoms usually last 7 to 9 years, sometimes longer, and can carry on after the menopause has ended. So night sweats in your late 50s or 60s are often still hormonal.
They’re also common in later life generally. In a US study of 795 primary care patients aged over 64, 10% said they were bothered by night sweats. A follow-up of two groups of over 65s, tracked for about 7 years, found people who reported night sweats were no more likely to die in that time than those who didn’t. That’s reassuring, but it isn’t a reason to skip a check.
Medicines, an overactive thyroid and sleep apnoea are all worth ruling out at any age. See a GP if:
- night sweats are new, or have come back years after the menopause
- they come with weight loss, a high temperature, a cough, or a lump or swelling in your neck, armpit or groin
- you have any vaginal bleeding after not having a period for 12 months or more (the NHS says this should always be checked, even if it’s only spotting)
Broken nights can also leave you foggy and low. See how long menopause lasts and waking in the night and not getting back to sleep.
Night sweats in pregnancy and after birth
In pregnancy
Feeling hot and sweaty is common in pregnancy. The NHS explains that your body pumps around up to 50% more blood than usual, which can make you feel hot, sweaty and dizzy. In a US study of 429 women, 35% reported night-time hot flushes during pregnancy.
Keep the bedroom cool, wear loose cotton, keep water by the bed and use layers you can throw off. But a fever is different: the NHS says a high temperature in pregnancy (feeling hotter than usual, shivering, or 38C or above) can be a sign of infection and should be checked. Contact your midwife, maternity unit or GP, call NHS 111 if you’re not sure what to do, and call 999 in an emergency.
After birth (postpartum night sweats)
Waking soaked in the weeks after having a baby is very common. An NHS service for new parents explains that the change in hormone levels after pregnancy causes night sweats, which tend to be worst in the first couple of weeks and can last longer if you’re breastfeeding. In the same US study, 29% of women reported night-time hot flushes after giving birth, and they were more common in women with more symptoms of low mood. If you’re feeling low, tell your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Speak to your GP or midwife if you feel unwell alongside the sweats, or they are a big problem or go on for a long time.
Fever after birth needs urgent advice. The NHS says giving birth in the past 6 weeks raises the risk of sepsis. If you have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery after birth, contact your midwife, maternity unit or NHS 111 straight away. Call 999 if you have the sepsis signs in the box under “When to see your GP”.
We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Night sweats in men
In men, common causes include anxiety and stress, alcohol, medicines and low blood sugar. Sleep apnoea can also cause night sweating, along with loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Low testosterone can occasionally cause hot flushes. If you’re over 60 and getting new night sweats, or they come with weight loss, a fever or lumps, see your GP promptly. See stress in men.
The sleep apnoea link is stronger than many people realise. In an Icelandic study, about 1 in 3 people with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea reported sweating at night 3 or more times a week, compared with about 1 in 10 people in the general population, and this fell to general population levels once their sleep apnoea was treated. If you snore loudly, see how to stop snoring and ask your GP about a sleep test.
Night sweats in children
The NHS notes that adults and children can get night sweats. Before anything else, check the room isn’t too hot and your child isn’t under too many layers.
Book a GP appointment if your child:
- regularly wakes with soaked sheets or nightclothes in a cool room
- is losing weight, more tired than usual or generally not themselves
- has a lump or swollen glands that haven’t gone down within a week
- has a cough that won’t go away, or keeps getting a high temperature
For a child with a high temperature, the NHS advises calling 111 if they are under 3 months with a temperature of 38C or higher, 3 to 6 months with 39C or higher, have had a high temperature for 5 days or more, or are not their usual self and you’re worried. Call 999 if they have a stiff neck, a rash that doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it, are drowsy and hard to wake, or have difficulty breathing.
Our products are for adults only and aren’t suitable for children.
What helps with night sweats
- Keep the bedroom cool and use a fan.
- Use layers of light cotton bedding you can throw off, rather than one heavy duvet. Separate duvets help if your partner runs cold; see sleep divorce.
- Wear loose, breathable nightclothes, and keep a spare set and a glass of cold water by the bed.
- Cut down on alcohol, caffeine and spicy food, especially in the evening.
- Manage stress with a calm wind-down. See nervous system regulation.
- Don’t stop a medicine yourself; ask your GP or pharmacist whether an alternative might help.
- Keep a simple diary for two weeks: how often, how soaked, what you ate and drank, any new medicines, and your periods if you have them. It makes a GP appointment much more useful.
Broken sleep from night sweats can leave you exhausted. See why am I always tired? and why you wake at 3am.
When to see your GP
The NHS advises seeing a GP if:
- you have night sweats regularly that wake you up or worry you
- you also have a very high temperature (or feel hot, cold or shivery), a cough or diarrhoea
- you have night sweats and you’re losing weight for no reason
It’s also worth getting checked if you notice swollen glands or lumps, feel generally unwell, or there’s no obvious cause such as a warm room, alcohol or the menopause. Your GP will ask about other symptoms and your medicines, and may suggest blood tests.
Get urgent help. Call 999 or go to A&E if you or someone else has a very high or very low temperature or is very shivery and also: is breathing very fast, is confused or has slurred speech, has blue, pale or blotchy skin, or has a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it. These can be signs of sepsis. The risk is higher if you’re pregnant or have given birth in the past 6 weeks. If you’re not sure, call NHS 111.
Related guides
- Perimenopause symptoms.
- Our guide to hot flushes, including daytime flushes and common triggers.
- Running hot and sleeping badly before your period? See insomnia before a period.
- The ideal bedroom temperature and bedding.
- How long does menopause last? The stages and symptom timeline.
- Coughing at night: causes and when to see a GP.
- Overactive thyroid symptoms in women and men.
- Physical signs of anxiety, including sweating.
- If you take Mounjaro with insulin or a sulphonylurea, night sweats can be a sign of low blood sugar: see Mounjaro and sleep.
- Broken sleep and night sweats can feed anxiety too: see can menopause cause anxiety?
- Wondering about CBD for night sweats? Read CBD oil for menopause: what the research says before you buy.
None of our products is a treatment for night sweats; if they’re new, heavy or come with weight loss or fever, see your GP. If you’re building a calmer evening routine, these are the products our customers most often choose. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure for CBD is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
FAQs
What causes night sweats?
The NHS lists menopause, anxiety, some medicines, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug use and hyperhidrosis as the most common causes. Sometimes no cause is found.
When should I worry about night sweats?
See a GP if they happen regularly, wake you or worry you, or come with a fever, cough, diarrhoea or unexplained weight loss.
Can anxiety cause night sweats?
Yes. Anxiety is one of the most common causes, often with a racing heart or waking with worry.
Why do men get night sweats?
Common causes include anxiety, alcohol, medicines, low blood sugar and sleep apnoea. New night sweats with weight loss or fever need a GP.
How do I stop night sweats?
Keep the room cool, use light layers, cut evening alcohol and caffeine, and manage stress. If they continue, see your GP to find the cause.
Why am I suddenly getting night sweats?
Common triggers for new night sweats are a new medicine, drinking more alcohol, an infection, a stressful patch or the start of perimenopause. If they keep happening, or come with fever, weight loss or lumps, see your GP.
Are night sweats a sign of cancer?
Rarely. Most night sweats have a common cause such as menopause, anxiety, alcohol or medicines. The NHS lists night sweats among the symptoms of lymphoma, usually alongside a painless lump, a high temperature or unexplained weight loss, so see your GP if you have these.
Is it normal to have night sweats after giving birth?
Yes. Hormone changes after pregnancy commonly cause night sweats, usually worst in the first couple of weeks and sometimes longer if you’re breastfeeding. A high temperature or feeling shivery after birth is different: contact your midwife or NHS 111 straight away.
Why does my child sweat at night?
Often the room is too warm or there are too many layers. See a GP if your child regularly wakes soaked, is losing weight, has swollen glands or is unwell. Call 111 or 999 for the high temperature warning signs listed by the NHS.
Can sleep apnoea cause night sweats?
Yes. In one large study, people with untreated sleep apnoea were about three times as likely to have frequent night sweats as the general population, and this fell with treatment. Loud snoring, gasping and daytime tiredness are the other clues.
Sources
- NHS. Night sweats.
- NHS. Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
- NHS. Menopause symptoms.
- NICE. Menopause: identification and management (NG23).
- NHS. Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
- NHS. Overactive thyroid: symptoms.
- NHS. Sleep apnoea.
- NHS. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: symptoms.
- NHS. Swollen glands.
- NHS. Sepsis.
- NHS. Pregnancy symptoms you need to get help for.
- NHS. 11 weeks pregnant.
- Just One Norfolk (East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust). Early days with your new baby.
- NHS. High temperature (fever) in children.
- Park H et al (2015). A double-blind placebo-controlled study of magnesium supplements to reduce menopausal hot flashes. Menopause.
- Arnardottir ES et al (2013). Nocturnal sweating, a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea: the Icelandic sleep apnoea cohort. BMJ Open.
- Thurston RC et al (2013). Prospective evaluation of nighttime hot flashes during pregnancy and postpartum. Fertility and Sterility.
- Mold JW et al (2004). Prevalence and predictors of night sweats, day sweats, and hot flashes in older primary care patients. Annals of Family Medicine.
- Mold JW, Lawler F (2010). The prognostic implications of night sweats in two cohorts of older patients. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
