What are the Most Common Causes of Night Sweats and Nausea?

Night sweats and nausea can be caused by a number of different conditions. Sometimes, people experience a handful of nights of poor sleep accompanied with sweating and feeling nauseous because of stress or minor infections, and they are not necessarily a cause of concern. It is important to see a medical professional for evaluation and the exploration of treatment options if these symptoms persist, as they can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. If other symptoms are present as well, such as daytime problems with sweating and nausea, fever, headaches, and so forth, these can be important diagnostic clues.

Hormonal changes are a very common reason for people to develop night sweats and nausea. Menopause often begins with these symptoms and people with hormone disorders, including cancers of the endocrine system, can develop them as their bodies struggle to regulate at night. Another common cause is immunosuppression, which may be caused by an infection in the body eating up the resources of the immune system, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), lymphoma, and a variety of other conditions. They can also be a result of taking immunosuppressive medications for cancer treatment or organ transplants.

Sleep apnea is associated with night sweats and nausea, as are migraines. Certain medications can cause nighttime sweating and intestinal discomfort including some antibiotics, antidepressant medications, and steroids used to treat inflammation. Low blood sugar is another common cause, particularly in people with diabetes. Managing blood sugar levels before bed more effectively can sometimes address the problem.

Some neurological disorders cause these symptoms as well. In addition, people reacting to foods they are allergic to, meals that upset the stomach, or high caffeine intake can sweat during the night and may feel nauseated. As discussed above, stress can be another cause. People living in a high state of stress often experience gastrointestinal symptoms and may have trouble with thermoregulation, leading to night sweats.

When people go to the healthcare provider for night sweats and nausea, it is helpful to be able to say how long they have been occurring, and to provide information about other symptoms. Any major life changes should be documented as well to see if they are responsible. Treating the underlying cause should resolve the symptoms, and some patients also benefit from anti-nausea medications and other measures to help them feel more comfortable during the process of diagnosis and treatment.