Do you sweat profusely at night? If yes, you might want to see your doctor as it could be a sign of leukaemia. Here’s everything you need to know.
Do you find yourself sweating in the middle of the night even with the air-conditioning on? While it could be normal during the summer, if it happens when the weather is fine, then it could be a sign of something serious. Experts advise that if you’re sweating excessively at night, you should see your doctor right once and obtain a blood test. Night sweating that is extreme and accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, exhaustion, bleeding, and weight loss could suggest an underlying medical disease such as leukaemia. Learn how to tell the difference between normal night sweating and perspiration that could indicate something more serious.
What Is Leukemia?
Leukaemia is an umbrella term used to refer to cancer of the blood cells as a whole. The type of leukaemia a person develops is determined by the type of malignant blood cell. Typically, these are lymphocytes or myeloid cells. The kind also relies on whether the ailment progresses rapidly (acute) or slowly (chronic). Leukaemia is the most prevalent cancer in individuals over 55, but it is also a common disease in children under the age of 15.
Sweating excessively at night can be caused by a variety of factors. It may be an early indicator of some types of cancer, including various types of leukaemia, in some circumstances.
Normal Night Sweat Vs Leukemia Night Sweats
Sweating at night is not uncommon, especially during the summer when your room or bedding becomes too hot. Based on the temperature and quantity of sweat, a person can tell if their night sweats are linked to leukaemia or other blood malignancies. Severe night sweats that cause your bedsheets or pyjamas to become soaked wet while sleeping in a cold atmosphere might occasionally be an indication of leukaemia. But other symptoms may accompany leukaemia-related night sweats, including:
- Sudden weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
In children, symptoms may also include:
- Bleeding or bruising
- Pain in the bones
- Lymphadenopathy
- Paleness
People with leukaemia may experience night sweats due to the shortage of healthy blood cells. Studies have explained that overcrowding of leukemic cells in the bone marrow can disable the body to create enough healthy blood cells or platelets. The body starts producing abnormal blood cells instead. When the production of white blood cells, which are used to fight off infections, it becomes difficult for the body to fight pathogens trying to attack the body. So, the body raises its temperature to fight off infections, which may make a person experience fever and night sweats.
But Night Sweats Could Also Be A Sign Of Other Conditions
If you are not experiencing other symptoms of leukaemia, then excessive sweating can be a sign of a variety of other causes. In older women, it could be a sign of menopause. Night sweats, however, can be linked to pregnancy, anxiety, infections, hormone abnormalities, or low blood sugar, according to Leukemia Care. They can also be caused by other substances you’re ingesting, such as medications or alcohol.
This post first appeared on The Health Site
