5 Possible Causes of Men's Night Sweats
What Causes Night Sweats in Men? Although night sweats are most often associated with women experiencing menopause, night sweats are relatively common among men, too. This frustrating, uncomfortable condition is caused by a wide range of factors, including:
- Warm Climates and Internal Thermostat: Some men just run hot and tend to sweat at night. This is sometimes exacerbated by warm climates. This is the most common reason for most men who sweat at night but read on to learn more.
- Low Testosterone — Low testosterone levels are not alone a serious cause for concern. In fact, as most men begin to age, they will experience a dip in testosterone production, causing andropause, which is the male equivalent to menopause. Low testosterone can also occur after hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer, HIV infection, pituitary gland tumors and other conditions.
- Medications — Specific medications may induce night sweats, including antidepressants and hormone-blocking medications that are used to regulate hormones during cancer treatment. Additionally, some diabetes medications, especially hypoglycemic agents, will trigger night sweats. Ask your doctor about your medications’ side effects to determine whether or not this is the cause of your night sweats.
- Anxiety — If you’re feeling particularly anxious in your life or have entered a phase of high stress, then you may experience an onset of night sweats. Stress-induced night sweats are exceptionally common and may come and go depending on your level of stress and anxiety.
- Medical Conditions — There are a broad range of medical conditions common in men that can trigger regular night sweats. Some of these conditions include autoimmune disorders, myelofibrosis, osteomyelitis, stroke, sleep disorders and tuberculosis. Many types of cancer, including Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia, can cause night sweats.
- Respiratory Infections — According to American Family Physician (AFP), it is common for both men and women to experience night sweats during or after an upper respiratory tract infection. Respiratory-related night sweats commonly begin when infectious mononucleosis (IM) occurs, often caused by Epstein-Barr virus. They may last for weeks to months after infection.
