SIJO RefreshWhy Do I Sweat In My Sleep?
Being a hot sleeper may feel like a bit of a curse at times. You can’t get comfortable, you spend all night tossing and turning, and the worst part is, you may not even know why this happens. It just does.
We create breathable materials to help combat sweating at night or getting too uncomfortable and hot while you sleep, but it’s important to try and identify the root causes. So we’re here to answer the question we’ve all asked ourselves at one time or another, “Why do I sweat in my sleep?” Of course, if this is a problem that has persisted or gets worse, we absolutely suggest reaching out to your primary care physician or another medical professional.
Ready to dive in?
Why People Get Warm At Night
Our bodies are amazing, and they work tirelessly to regulate our temperatures to combat a number of ailments and illnesses. Our body temperature also knows to change when we sleep. At rest, our body temperature cools down. When you’re up and about in your waking hours, the body’s temperature increases. This may make sense to you already, because as you move along in the day, you’re engaging in activities. But, as you rest, your body’s core temperature cools down. You’re not expending energy. Energy equals heat. But, if while you’re sleeping your temperature starts to rise, the unpleasantness begins. You may start to sweat, or wake up from an uncomfortable sense of warmth.
Sweating at night or sleeping warm is fairly common. Sometimes it happens because your room is just too warm, or because the air is not circulating properly. In some instances, stress can contribute. A massive component, though, is the sleeping environment you create. You could simply be too warm because the duvet insert or comforter you have is a bit too heavy for the season. Dense bedding (and even some mattresses) trap heat. That’s why it’s important to choose breathable, temperature regulating bedding that disperses heat rather than trapping it in. For more on that, visit our Eucalyptus Bedding Collection Page.
What Causes Night Sweats
But when it persists, well….
Hello night sweats, our unpleasant, uninvited friend. Night sweats can happen for a variety of reasons. Before we get into those, it’s important to note that night sweats are more severe than just sweating during the night. This is excessive sweating that soaks through your pajamas and or bedding. For women, this can often be due to hormonal fluctuations such as pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues and more. But there are many other factors that can contribute. Infections, general perspiration issues, diabetes and most commonly, medications can cause night sweats. This, too, could be caused by stress. Stress contributes to many sleep issues, including difficulty falling asleep, waking up often, and excessive sweating. So, if you’re wondering, “Why do I sweat in my sleep, when it’s cold, when it’s hot...all the time?” the above reasons could be the answer for you.
When Should You See A Doctor For Night Sweats?
It’s important to understand that if this happens frequently, it could be a sign of an issue. For example, you may not know you have a hormonal imbalance, or that an infection or a virus like the flu is coming on. Night sweats could be a sign of issues like these if medications or stress are not contributing factors.
If this is impacting your sleep every night, or comes on suddenly and you feel that it may be a sign of something other than stress, and you’ve checked on the side effects of your medications, it may be a sign to visit your doctor for a physical or some bloodwork. Your doctor will assure you as to whether this is nothing to worry about, or if there is something underlying that they can help you with.
Whether you’re sweating and warm at night or experiencing night sweats, there are some things you can do to help.
5 Tips To Combat Sweating At Night
- Assess your sleeping set up. This is the time to see if your bedding is the culprit. Invest in cooling, breathable bedding like our Eucalyptus Bedding Collection, which are cooling and temperature regulating. If you’re in the market for a new mattress, it may be good to consider hybrid or latex mattresses, as memory foam can trap in a ton of heat. Also, switch out your duvet insert to something lightweight if you like the weight of a blanket but don’t want to get too hot. If the weight of the blanket doesn’t matter, you can simply use your duvet cover as it is, without including an insert.
- Cool down your space. Turn on the fan or air conditioner if you need to. This is helpful even if it’s just on a timer while you fall asleep. Also, if your windows draw in a great deal of sun and heat, draw your blinds or shades a little earlier to keep the room cool.
- Lighten up your sleepwear. What you wear to bed can have just as much of an impact as what you use for bedding. Lightweight, breathable options, like those featured in our Loungewear Collection, are great choices.
- Switch up your eating habits. Heavy meals close to bedtime can lead to digestive issues, heartburn, and even warmth. As your body expends energy to metabolize the food, your body is working harder and heating up. This may cause warmth at night. Try to stop eating within three hours of going to bed, or, try having a light snack like fruit if you feel the need to have something to eat closer to your bedtime.
- Have a quick shower or rinse off. Night time showering may be a helpful way to cool down your body before you go to bed, preventing sweating. Warm showers or baths are interesting, because even though you are bathing in warm water, you feel cooled down once you step out of the shower or bath. If you’re not a night time shower person, a little rinse-off could help as well.
Sijo carries products that can help you, along with the above tips, experience cooler, more restful sleep. Explore our breathable, cooling Eucalyptus Bedding Collection and Eucalyptus Loungewear Collection to learn more about their benefits, and how they can contribute to a routine that helps you sleep well.
Overall, being a hot sleeper has its drawbacks, but can be managed with the proper bedding and bedroom adjustments. Now that you know what to do and look out for, we wish you restful, comfortable, and cool nights of sleep!
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