Eating Disorder And Night Sweats – Why It’s Happening and How to Stop it.

Night sweats are common and normal, especially when you are recovering from an eating disorder. However, it isn’t pleasant and no one wants to keep waking up soaked in sweat.

So, What do you do to avoid them? In this article, we will be discussing all that you need to know about eating disorder and how it is related to night sweats as well as what you can do about them.

First, what is an eating disorder?

What Is An Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder is a condition where people have unhealthy relationships with food and their bodies in general. Some people have what is known as Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss and a distorted body image, which results in denial of hunger and extreme weight loss.

Here is a piece to help you identify if you have an eating disorder.

People suffering from anorexia typically exercise excessively and follow strict diets to maintain low body weight. Night sweats are one of the many symptoms associated with this condition. It can also occur when someone restricts calories or follows an extremely low-calorie diet (less than 1,000 calories per day).

Night sweats typically get better over time. While recovering, it might only last a few days, but in some people, it might persist for three to six months. However, you should see a doctor if they last long because other illnesses might bring them.

You now know what an eating disorder is. Let us quickly look at the general causes and symptoms of sweating to understand better what is happening.

What generally causes sweating?

Your biochemistry is either impacted by your body or environment. Your blood vessels contract once more as a result of blood flow increasing as blood vessels expand as a result of rising body temperature.

You consequently feel your body temperature suddenly rise (as a result of the increased blood flow), your heartbeat quicken, and you start sweating. You might even experience cold chills as a result of your elevated body temperature and the cooler environment.

Symptoms of night sweats

For most people, this may seem like common sense, but sweating is your body’s method of controlling temperature.

Common signs of night sweats include:

• Increasing body heat
• Recurring episodes of drenching sweat
• Waking up periodically throughout the day.
• Swollen skin

Now, let’s look at the relationship between night sweats and eating disorder as well as how to avoid them.

Why do night sweats result from an eating disorder?

The way your body functions is disrupted by eating disorders, which can also have an impact on the health of your organs and digestive system.

An eating disorder affects hormone levels, which in turn affects your sleep and metabolism, and induces high levels of anxiety. This is because malnutrition and calorie deficit results from eating disorders. All of which may lead to severe night sweats.

Your body constantly adjusts to new eating behaviors as your eating patterns become more erratic, making it difficult for your body to control your blood sugar levels. As a result, hormonal imbalances occur.

In addition, it frequently causes women to have irregular menstrual cycles and little sexual desire. Because estrogen levels are low, your body has a hard time controlling its temperature, which causes you to perspire excessively. The same is true for men, but due to hormonal changes, they experience erectile dysfunction, a rise in body temperature, and night sweats.

What can I do to reduce night sweats?

If you have night sweats as a result of an eating disorder, the first thing you should do is seek help as soon as possible. As previously stated, eating disorders are harmful to your health. They can cause serious long-term health problems if not treated promptly.

In the meantime, here are some precautions you can take.

1. Go to bed earlier
2. Eat more protein and fewer carbs
3. Increase your water intake
4. Exercise more
5. Try wearing a pump (biofeedback device) if you have a body image issue or are underweight

If you don’t already have night sweats or you have just started having them you can try these quick preventive methods.

How to prevent night sweats.

You should always try to prevent problems rather than try to fix them, and you can stop night sweats by taking a few simple measures.

• Avoid using hard drugs and alcohol at all costs.
• Do not overeat.
• Pick something less spicy.

If it is not an eating disorder what can it be?

There is a long list of what could be causing your night sweats aside from eating disorders but below is the most common one.

• Your environment

The type of fabric you use and the color is very important here. You are much more likely to perspire at night if your bedsheet is either black or made of polyethylene. Your pajamas, pillowcase, and mattress may also contribute to whether or not you sweat at night

• Stress and anxiety

Sweating is one of the physiological responses our bodies have when we’re stressed or anxious. This does not only happen during the day but also at night. This is why we sweat when we have bad dreams. Try to calm down and relax before going to sleep. This will ensure a better sweat-free and relaxing sleep.

• Hormones

A lot of things in the human body respond to hormones. A sudden hormonal fluctuation can lead to Night sweating.

• Night Sweats in Teen Girls

Night sweats are not uncommon during the teenage years and can be caused by changes in hormone levels in girls. However, they can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. If you have night sweats, talk to your doctor. He or she can help determine the cause and recommend treatment options.

• Serious medical challenges

Medical challenges such as HIV, Tuberculous, Osteomyelitis, and Fungal infections can also lead to serious Night sweating.

• Cancer

First, I want you to know that the chances of your night sweating resulting from cancer are very low. However, Cancer patients may experience serious sweating at night.

When should you talk to your doctor?

Usually, night sweats are nothing to worry about. However, on occasion, they might be a sign of a more severe condition that needs to be treated.

Night sweats are frequent during menopause, which usually starts around age 50. If you experience night sweats or other menopause symptoms below 40, you must see a doctor immediately. In this instance, primary ovarian insufficiency might exist.

Additionally, if your night sweats start to become recurrent, are causing you to have trouble sleeping, or are accompanied by other symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. A serious health condition may be present if you also have a high fever, a cough, or unusual weight loss.

FAQ

How common are eating disorders?

Eating disorders affect more women than men. 2 in every 3 women will have an eating disorder at a time in their life. However, although not so common in men according to a popular study, 10% of men will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.

Who is more likely to have an eating disorder?

Females in the age group of 10-25 as well as those in menopause are more likely to have an eating disorder.