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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Night Sweats?
Question: My husband has night sweats he had surgery for a double anyerism 2 years ago and had a kidney removed it had cancer but he is cancer free now. He is on clopidegril, simvastin, metoprolo tarta, and takes nitrate for angina. He saw a doc and the doc said he had adult mono awhile back. Is anything else going on? He had a chest xray and they said it was negative. Does that mean negative for cancer, TB what? What can he do for night sweats?
Brief Answer:
Negative or cancer, TB both
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I would like to answer your query.
Chest X-ray is usually done to check for lungs bronchovascular markings, any fluid accumulation, infection or tumor and also to check for the Cardiac enlargement.
Tuberculosis is one of the commonest causes of night sweat in the elderly, as their immunity is low. As the X-ray is clear, it rules out tuberculosis.
Renal cell cancer could metastasize to lung, but is usually not known to cause night sweats.
Specifically from the X-ray we can say, he is free from pulmonary tuberculosis and any tumor tissue in lung.
Do get a blood sugar level (Hypoglycemia is one of the commonest causes of night sweats) done along with a thyroid profile.
Few questions need to be answered.
1. Are there any swellings in the neck or in the axilla, any superficial swelling,
2. Any bleeding anywhere or even in gums,
3. Any feeling of heart beats / palpitations
4. Abnormal sleep, moving excessively or day time sleepiness.
5. Any recently started medications.
do inform your doctor for relevant tests.
Alcohol and smoking also needs to be avoided, until a cause can be identified.
There is no specific treatment for night sweats. Identification of cause is primary.
Lung involvement is not present with relation to tuberculosis or any cancer based on x-ray findings.
If you have any further queries, do ask, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Negative or cancer, TB both
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I would like to answer your query.
Chest X-ray is usually done to check for lungs bronchovascular markings, any fluid accumulation, infection or tumor and also to check for the Cardiac enlargement.
Tuberculosis is one of the commonest causes of night sweat in the elderly, as their immunity is low. As the X-ray is clear, it rules out tuberculosis.
Renal cell cancer could metastasize to lung, but is usually not known to cause night sweats.
Specifically from the X-ray we can say, he is free from pulmonary tuberculosis and any tumor tissue in lung.
Do get a blood sugar level (Hypoglycemia is one of the commonest causes of night sweats) done along with a thyroid profile.
Few questions need to be answered.
1. Are there any swellings in the neck or in the axilla, any superficial swelling,
2. Any bleeding anywhere or even in gums,
3. Any feeling of heart beats / palpitations
4. Abnormal sleep, moving excessively or day time sleepiness.
5. Any recently started medications.
do inform your doctor for relevant tests.
Alcohol and smoking also needs to be avoided, until a cause can be identified.
There is no specific treatment for night sweats. Identification of cause is primary.
Lung involvement is not present with relation to tuberculosis or any cancer based on x-ray findings.
If you have any further queries, do ask, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
thank you so much for answering. My husband gets about 2 or 3 hours of sleep per night.
Brief Answer:
Look for symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Thanks for replying.
Sleep pattern could be distributed due to two causes -
1. Night sweats - Is it disturbing sleep heavily?
2. obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome - (can lead to night sweats)
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is one of the common causes of night sweats and it is very much a common sleeping disorder.
Symptoms you can watch out for this syndrome include, snoring, day time sleepiness/fatigue, headache, dry throat in morning, sudden gasping feeling and night sweats. As a partner, you will know his symptoms more.
If he is overweight, the chances of this syndrome are high.
If these symptoms are present, a sleep study could confirm your diagnosis. You can meet your doctor for a sleep study referral.
If none of these symptoms are present, we have to go back and identify another cause. A cause needs to be identified to treat night sweat condition.
Take care.
If you have any further queries, do ask again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Look for symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Thanks for replying.
Sleep pattern could be distributed due to two causes -
1. Night sweats - Is it disturbing sleep heavily?
2. obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome - (can lead to night sweats)
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is one of the common causes of night sweats and it is very much a common sleeping disorder.
Symptoms you can watch out for this syndrome include, snoring, day time sleepiness/fatigue, headache, dry throat in morning, sudden gasping feeling and night sweats. As a partner, you will know his symptoms more.
If he is overweight, the chances of this syndrome are high.
If these symptoms are present, a sleep study could confirm your diagnosis. You can meet your doctor for a sleep study referral.
If none of these symptoms are present, we have to go back and identify another cause. A cause needs to be identified to treat night sweat condition.
Take care.
If you have any further queries, do ask again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Note: Get a consultation booked to know more about aging related medical issues. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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