BEYOND MENOPAUSE: other causes

MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS Frequently prescribed medications for pain, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety or thyroid issues can be common culprits in night sweats. Why? It depends on the medication’s effects, says Dr Sharon Orrange, an internal medicine specialist. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors increase levels of serotonin in the brain, which affects the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates core temperature). “Certain antidepressants also cause more norepinephrine to float around the brain, which stimulates receptors that lead to sweating,” says Dr Orrange. Even over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to excessive sweating. “These medications work to lower fever by causing blood vessels to dilate, which lets heat more easily escape through the skin,” she says. “This same mechanism may lead to sweating.” If you’re experiencing night sweats, talk to your doctor about any medications you’re on, advises Dr Orrange, to see if a change is warranted.

CERTAIN CANCERS Night sweats may be an early symptom of cancer, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, bone cancer and liver cancer – but gynaecologist Dr Arianna Sholes-Douglas stresses that it’s highly unlikely that this is the cause in a 40-year-old woman. Doctors don’t know why these cancers can cause night sweats; it may be because the body is having an immune response in an attempt to fight the cancerous cells. Keep in mind that when night sweats are a sign of cancer, they’ll likely be severe (read: you wake up drenched, not just a little sweaty) and there’s a good chance you’ll have other symptoms, such as fever and unexplained weight loss, says Dr Sholes-Douglas.