There are several forms of heavy sweating, with one of the forms being heavy sweating while sleeping. Sleep hyperhidrosis, more commonly known as the night sweats, is the occurrence of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) during sleep. The sufferer may or may not also suffer from excessive perspiration while awake. Sleep hyperhidrosis may occur at any age, but is most commonly seen in early adulthood.

Night sweats may occur for genetic reasons and may be relatively harmless. However, they can be distressing and disrupt sleep patterns if severe; the sufferer may be frequently awakened due to the discomfort of damp sleepwear, or if the sufferer sleeps in the nude, due to damp sheets.

Night sweating affects many people. If you suffer from excessive sweating while sleeping then it is a good idea to find out the cause as soon as you can. Naturally, the first possibility is that your central heating is too high, the weatehr too warm or humid, or your duvet is thicker than necessary. But if these causes can be dismissed, then it is a good policy to seek medical advice, simply to ensure it is nothing more serious. An infection could be behind your heavy night sweating, or a sickness, or even diabetes could cause heavy sweating during sleep. If you find out quickly, then you can move on to a cure quickly also.

A great many people suffer from heavy sweating. Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is characterized by the sufferer experiencing abnormally increased perspiration, more than that required for the proper regulation of their body temperature. Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized or localized to specific parts of the body. Hyperhidrosis can be classified depending on if it is a congenital or acquired trait. Primary hyperhidrosis tends to be seen as a genetic trait, usually starting during adolescence or even before. Secondary hyperhidrosis can start at any point in life and may be due to a disorder of the thyroid or pituitary gland, diabetes mellitus, tumors, gout, menopause, certain drugs, or even mercury poisoning. Hyperhidrosis can also be divided further according to which area of the body is mainly affected – palmoplantar (symptomatic sweating of mainly the hands or feet), and gustatory or generalized hyperhidrosis. Alternatively, hyperhydrosis may be classified according to the amount of skin that is affected and its possible causes.

A person suffering from sleep hyperhidrosis will experience a much higher core bodty temperature during their sleep, which will cause them to sweat more heavily than necessary. Such sweating could be the result of an infection of some kind, or even a reaction to some medication or drugs being taken. It could even be the result of a condition such as diabetes. In any case, it is likely to result in discomfort and, possibly, anxiety in the sufferer so the best option is always to seek medical guidance.

The important thing to understand is that some causes of night sweats may be relatively harmless, others may not and can be a sign of a serious underlying condition. So, while there can be several possible causes of excessive sweating at night, it is important to distinguish night sweats due to medical causes from those that occur simply because the sleep environment is too warm, either because the bedroom is unusually hot or because there are too many covers on the bed.

To conclude – of the more common causes of night sweating in women over 40, hormonal changes due to menopause and perimenopause is one of the most common. In fact, it is a very common occurrence during the menopause transition years and although it is annoying and uncomfortable, it is also not dangerous and is not a sign of serious illness. Some women also experience night sweating during pregnancy. But as in all cases check with your doctor.

Natural remedies for curing your overactive sweat glands do exist. Learn more about Sweating while sleeping. Stop by Serena Burditt’s site where you can find out all about night sweating and what you can do to remedy it.