Alcohol consumption and night sweats

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Alcohol Consumption and Night Sweats: Key Associations

Alcohol as a Cause of Night Sweats

Alcohol is recognized as a potential cause of night sweats, alongside other drugs and medical conditions. Clinical guidance highlights that alcohol, as a drug of abuse, can trigger night sweats in some individuals, and should be considered when evaluating patients with this symptom .

Alcohol’s Impact on Body Temperature and Nighttime Physiology

Research shows that alcohol consumption affects the body’s temperature regulation, especially at night. While alcohol initially lowers core body temperature during the day, it causes a significant increase in core temperature at night. This nighttime hyperthermia reduces the normal circadian rhythm amplitude of body temperature, which may contribute to symptoms like night sweats and sleep disturbances . Elevated nighttime heart rate after alcohol consumption has also been observed, further indicating physiological changes that could relate to sweating during sleep .

Alcohol Use and Night Sweats in Midlife Women

Large cohort studies have found that high-risk alcohol consumption is associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing night sweats, particularly in midlife women. Women who reported high-risk drinking were more likely to experience night sweats alone or in combination with hot flushes, compared to those who did not drink at high-risk levels . This suggests a behavioral link between alcohol use and night sweats in this population.

Alcohol, Sweat, and Monitoring Technologies

Recent advances in wearable technology have enabled the detection of alcohol in human sweat, confirming that alcohol is excreted through perspiration. These biosensors can measure alcohol levels in sweat in real time, providing a direct link between alcohol consumption and sweat production 47. While these studies focus on monitoring, they support the biological plausibility of alcohol-induced sweating.

Alcohol, Sweating, and Heat Stress

Experimental studies examining alcohol’s effects during heat stress found that alcohol consumption does not significantly change the amount of whole-body sweating compared to placebo. However, alcohol does increase heart rate and lower blood pressure during heat exposure, which may influence how the body perceives and responds to heat, potentially affecting night sweats in some contexts .

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption is a recognized risk factor for night sweats, likely due to its effects on body temperature regulation and physiological arousal during sleep. This association is supported by clinical observations, population studies, and physiological research. Wearable technologies further confirm that alcohol is present in sweat after drinking. Individuals experiencing night sweats should consider their alcohol intake as a possible contributing factor, and healthcare providers should include alcohol use in their assessment of night sweats.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

The effect of alcohol consumption on the circadian control of human core body temperature is time dependent.

Alcohol consumption over a 24-hour period significantly increases core body temperature during the night, potentially explaining sleep and mood disorders in alcoholic patients.

RCTHighly Cited

2001·

88citations

·Thierry Danel et al.

Diagnosing night sweats.

Night sweats can be diagnosed by considering various diseases, medications, and drug abuse, as well as a thorough history, physical examination, and laboratory and radiographic studies.

2003·

49citations

·A. Viera et al.

Risk factors for night sweats and hot flushes in midlife: results from a prospective cohort study

Night sweats and hot flushes in midlife are associated with social factors, such as obesity, smoking, high-risk drinking, and perimenopause, and are more common in women with certain medical conditions.

Observational StudyRigorous Journal

2013·

51citations

·Gerrie-Cor M. Herber-Gast et al.

Simultaneous lancet-free monitoring of alcohol and glucose from low-volumes of perspired human sweat

A lancet-free, label-free biosensor can simultaneously detect glucose and alcohol in perspired human sweat, potentially benefiting pre-diabetics and diabetics by monitoring glucose levels and alcohol consumption.

Rigorous Journal

2018·

55citations

·Ashlesha Bhide et al.

314 Alcohol and the Sleep of Elite Athletes

Alcohol consumption in elite athletes is linked to higher mean heart rate, later bedtime, and fewer training sessions the following day.

Observational StudyVery Rigorous Journal

2021·

0citations

·L. Shaw et al.

The Physiological and Perceptual Responses During Acute Heat Stress Following Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption during acute heat stress increases heart rate and reduces mean arterial pressure, but does not alter whole-body sweating, core and skin temperature, thermal comfort, or urine production.

RCT

2024·

0citations

·Amy Brough et al.

Noninvasive Alcohol Monitoring Using a Wearable Tattoo-Based Iontophoretic-Biosensing System

Wearable tattoo-based alcohol biosensing system allows noninvasive alcohol monitoring in induced sweat, with a highly selective and sensitive response to ethanol.

Highly Cited

2016·

479citations

·Jayoung Kim et al.

Factors associated with a clinically relevant reduction in menopausal symptoms of a standardized acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms

Acupuncture can effectively reduce menopausal symptoms, with vocational education, no alcohol consumption, two or more births, and urinary incontinence being key factors.

RCTRigorous Journal

2021·

3citations

·F. Waldorff et al.

Prevalence of night sweats in primary care patients: an OKPRN and TAFP-Net collaborative study.

Night sweats are common and under-reported, with factors like hot flashes, panic attacks, and sleep problems influencing their causes.

Observational Study

2002·

40citations

·J. Mold et al.

Disruption of circadian rhythms promotes alcohol use: a systematic review.

Social jet lag and eveningness chronotype are consistently associated with increased alcohol consumption, while night shift work has variable effects on alcohol consumption.

Systematic Review

2023·

5citations

·Morgan J Nelson et al.

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