Waking up to damp clothing and a wet pillowcase is no fun. For people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this type of nighttime overheating may be a common issue.

Night sweats are a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. One study published in the journal BMJ Open found that 30.6 percent of male participants with OSA and 33.3 percent of female participants with OSA experienced night sweats at least three times per week.

Learn more about how night sweats relate to sleep apnea, other potential causes, and what your treatment options are.

How Can Sleep Apnea Cause Night Sweats?

Night sweats are often linked to repeated disruptions in breathing and oxygen levels that occur throughout the night. These disruptions can trigger stress responses in the body and interfere with normal sleep processes, both of which may contribute to sweating.

Stress Hormones Raise Body Temperature

Sleep apnea causes your airway to become partially or fully blocked while you’re sleeping. This causes brief pauses in breathing and hypoxia (dips in blood oxygen levels). In sleep apnea, hypoxia happens frequently throughout the night.

Studies suggest that night sweats often occur when people with sleep apnea aren’t getting enough oxygen at night. This lack of oxygen can put stress on the body.

When you stop breathing, even temporarily, your brain senses this and signals your body to wake up. These awakenings are often so brief that you may not remember them, but they still affect your body. This urgency causes your body to release stress hormones and enter a fight-or-flight state.

When your body is in a fight-or-flight state, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline cause an increase in blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. This can lead to symptoms like sweating, alertness, and an increase in blood sugar. Over time, this repeated stress response can make night sweats happen frequently.

Disrupted Sleep Impacts Temperature Regulation

Your body usually lowers its core temperature at night to help you sleep. This natural cooling is an important part of healthy sleep.

Repeated awakenings and breathing problems can interfere with this process. Instead of staying in deep, restful sleep, your body keeps getting pulled into lighter stages of sleep or waking up briefly.

As a result, your body may have trouble maintaining a stable temperature, leading to episodes of overheating and sweating.

The combination of frequent wake-ups, stress hormone release, and poor temperature control can make night sweats more likely in people with sleep apnea.

Other Possible Causes of Night Sweats

Night sweats can happen for many reasons outside of sleep apnea. Especially if your sleep apnea is well managed, it’s important to consider other causes.

Hormone Changes

According to Cleveland Clinic, night sweats commonly affect women because they’re often connected to changes in reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

Menopause and perimenopause can cause hormonal changes that can affect the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temperature). This can lead to hot flashes and night sweats. This same effect occurs in people with primary ovarian insufficiency.

Thyroid problems and diabetes can also cause hormonal changes that may lead to sweating.

Diet and Medication

Certain parts of your diet may be triggering your night sweats. If you’re already prone to night sweats because of sleep apnea, you might want to try limiting potential triggers, including:

• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Caffeine

Some medications can also increase nighttime sweating. These medications include:

• Antidepressants
• Diabetes medications
• Steroids
• Acetaminophen
• Aspirin
• High blood pressure medications

Review your medication list with your healthcare provider. They can help make adjustments, if needed.

Infection

Night sweats are commonly caused by infections such as:

• COVID-19
• Tuberculosis
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Common colds
• Influenza

If your night sweats started suddenly and you have other signs of an infection, talk to your healthcare provider. Here are some signs to be aware of:

• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Vomiting

Sleep Environment

Other times, night sweats are simply because of your sleep environment. It’s possible that your bedroom temperature is too warm and causing you to sweat.

Here are some simple tips to help you feel cooler at night:

• Lower the temperature in the bedroom.
• Keep a fan nearby or open up the windows.
• Opt for lighter sheets and light-weight pajamas.
• Use pillows or mattresses that contain cooling gels.

Other Causes

Other conditions that can cause night sweats include substance use disorder, cancers, neurologic disorders, and psychiatric conditions.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea Night Sweats

Treating sleep apnea can reduce or eliminate night sweats. Treatment can help you get the oxygen you need throughout the night and reduce sleep disruptions, which should, in turn, reduce night sweats.

One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP machines deliver steady airflow through a mask you wear while you sleep. When breathing becomes more stable, oxygen levels stay normal, and your sleep quality should improve.

In one study, PAP treatment reduced the occurrence of night sweats from 33.2 percent to 11.5 percent.

There are also other treatments for sleep apnea, including:

• Oral appliances that reposition the jaw
• Lifestyle changes such as weight loss
• Surgery to fix structural issues that impair breathing

If your night sweats aren’t caused by sleep apnea or your sleep apnea is well controlled with treatment and you’re still experiencing night sweats, talk to your doctor. They can determine the underlying cause and suggest appropriate treatment.

When To Call Your Doctor

Having night sweats once in a while usually isn’t a big cause for concern. This is especially true if you can link the symptom to changes in your lifestyle or diet or if you recently starting a new medication.

Reach out to your doctor if night sweats occur often or if they’re intense enough to soak your clothes or bedding. Persistent sweating without a clear cause is definitely worth bringing to your doctor’s attention.

If night sweats happen along with other symptoms of infection, don’t wait to seek medical advice.

Night sweats that disrupt your sleep or affect your quality of life are worth discussing. Your healthcare provider can suggest treatment options to improve your sleep.

Join the Conversation

On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Does nocturnal sweating wake you up at night? Let others know in the comments below.