Why do I suffer from insomnia and sweating at night?

Normally, sweating occurs when the temperature is too high. When we feel hot, we can feel it. Why do we wake up in the middle of the night and find ourselves sweating? Is this sweating normal or is there something wrong with our health?

In traditional Chinese medicine, if you sweat during sleep and the sweating stops after you wake up, it is called "sweating". Sweating is a disease name, which is characterized by abnormal sweating after falling asleep and stopping sweating after waking up.

The cause of night sweating is mostly due to the patient's "yin deficiency". In layman's terms, the "essence" stored in the human body is insufficient. When the physical condition declines, night sweating symptoms will appear, such as hot flashes, flushed cheeks, irritability, sweating, insomnia, fatigue and other phenomena. Young and middle-aged people face greater work and family pressure, and their physical and mental overdrafts are obvious, which is very likely to cause autonomic nervous system disorders in the human body. If they do not pay attention to replenishing "qi" in daily life, they will inevitably be "favored" by night sweating.

Most patients with mild hyperhidrosis sweat easily when they are deep asleep, at around 5 a.m., or 1 to 2 hours before waking up. The amount of sweat is small, and only after waking up do they feel a little sweat all over the body or some parts of the body. After waking up, there is no sweat again. Generally, there is no discomfort.

For patients with moderate hyperhidrosis, sweat may leak out soon after falling asleep, and even soak their sleeping clothes. The sweat stops when they wake up, and they will not sweat again after wiping the sweat off their body. Patients with this type of hyperhidrosis often have a hot sensation, sweat due to heat, and sometimes feel dry mouth and throat after waking up.

Patients with severe hyperhidrosis sweat easily. They sweat a lot soon after falling asleep or just before closing their eyes. They wake up after sweating, and the sweat stops immediately after waking up. They sweat again after falling asleep again. The amount of sweat is large, and the sweat often has a light salty taste, or sweat is mixed with sweat odor.

Excessive sweating can soak the bedding, and it is impossible to sleep well without changing sleeping clothes several times a night. Some patients with severe symptoms can soak the bedding. When the bedding is thin or a mat is used, the sweat can leave sweat marks on the bed board. These patients often have a distinct feeling of heat and irritability. They have dry mouth and tongue after sweating and like cool water. Usually, they may be accompanied by low fever or hot flashes, hotness in the five parts of the body, flushed face, dizziness, weight loss, fatigue, dark urine, small urine volume, and dry stool.

Mild and moderate typhoid fever will not cause much harm to the body, but severe typhoid fever will often worsen over time and develop into "desymptoms", seriously threatening the patient's health and life safety.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that excessive sweating is caused by deficiency of both Qi and Yin, which makes it impossible to collect and retain sweat. If excessive sweating does not heal over time, it will further damage Qi and Yin and endanger the health of the body. If excessive sweating is caused by deficiency of Qi, it is generally caused by poor vasodilator function, which can be treated with Buzhong Yiqi Decoction plus or minus. If excessive sweating is caused by insufficient blood in the heart, and there is palpitation and insomnia, it is advisable to nourish the blood and nourish the heart, and treat it with Guipi Decoction plus or minus.

If it is caused by Yin deficiency constitution, the body will show symptoms of dryness and heat, and there will also be perspiration. At this time, Liuwei Dihuang Pills with modifications can be used to improve the condition. For perspiration caused by Yin deficiency and excessive fire, and fever in the five hearts, it is advisable to nourish Yin and reduce fire. Danggui Liuhuang Decoction with modifications can be used. However, it is still recommended to be diagnosed by a Chinese medicine practitioner before taking medicine to improve the condition.

Experts remind that for people with weak constitutions, they should eat more yin-nourishing and tonic foods, such as dates, black beans, walnuts, black sesame seeds, glutinous rice, longans, etc.; eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and less spicy foods; keep a good mood and have a regular life. When symptoms of night sweats occur at night, pay attention to observe the cause of sweating, go to the hospital for treatment if necessary, and do not take medicine blindly or take supplements at will to avoid adverse consequences.

If the sweating continues for a long time, the heart yin is seriously damaged and should be treated actively. While receiving treatment, you should also pay special attention to self-care. The main points are as follows:

(1) While receiving drug treatment, patients should strengthen necessary physical exercise, develop a regular lifestyle, and pay attention to the balance between work and rest.

(2) In terms of diet, you should find out the dietary rules that are beneficial or harmful to your own symptoms, and carry out the most suitable dietary therapy for yourself. For patients with Yin deficiency, blood heat, or Yin deficiency and excessive fire, you should avoid spicy and irritating foods, avoid drinking alcohol, and eat more fresh vegetables that nourish Yin and clear heat, so that the secretory function of the sweat glands can be restored on the basis of a healthy body.

(3) When conditions permit, appropriately adjust the temperature and humidity of the living environment, such as for those with yin deficiency and blood heat.