Symptom 7: Night Sweats
Most people associate night sweats with hormonal changes or infections. Still, for someone with CSA, a drenched pillow and soaked sheets can be a nightly ordeal. It’s puzzling, distressing, and adds another layer of sleep disruption.
The reason? As the body experiences repeated breathing interruptions, there’s a spike in stress hormones. This surge can lead to an increase in heart rate and, consequently, a rise in body temperature. The body, in its attempt to cool down, produces excessive sweat, leading to those damp, uncomfortable nights.
Beyond the immediate discomfort of waking up in a pool of sweat, there’s a cascade of other issues to contend with. Continual night sweats can lead to skin irritations, rashes, or even infections. The frequent need to change sheets or pajamas can further fragment sleep, amplifying the already existing sleep deprivation.
From a psychological perspective, the unpredictability of these night sweats can be distressing. Going to bed becomes an exercise in anxiety, with thoughts of another sweat-soaked night looming large.(7)
