Tuesday, June 16, 2009

What Is Sleep Hyperhidrosis?

By Karen V. Douglas

Although people often normally sweat during the daytime hours for many reasons, dealing with excessive sweating while sleeping is definitely not normal. Many people refer to this as sleep hyperhidrosis, which is a problem of excessive sweating that only seems to crop up while sleeping. Although it may not sound too bad to deal with sleep hyperhidrosis, since it only occurs at night, you will definitely find that this can be very uncomfortable for those who are dealing with this problem.

Many people with this condition sweat so heavily that they cant sleep. Awaking drenched in sweat, they may have to change their pajamas and their sheets; in severe cases, even the mattress may become damp with sweat. If this is a nightly occurrence, it can cause sleep disturbances and general distress over whether this may be a symptom of a deeper problem.

In some cases there are other things that can cause this problem to occur. Fevers can make you sweat out at night. Epilepsy, head injuries, and even diabetes can cause this to occur from time to time. However, sleep hyperhidrosis is something that occurs on a regular basis without any particular reason behind it.

Dealing with sleep hyperhidrosis is not only uncomfortable, but it can be quite embarrassing. This is especially true if you happen to sleep with someone at night. You don't want them to realize what is happening. However, it is definitely hard to hide. This problem can even make your sleeping partner miserable when they wake up in a damp bed.

This is an expensive procedure (which is considered to be an elective one by most insurers and not covered), it sometimes fails to resolve the problem and there is always a risk of complications with surgery, however small. If there are alternatives you havent yet given a chance, surgery is not the answer.

Chances are youd rather avoid surgery to remedy your sleep hyperhidrosis. You may feel as if youve come to the point where youll try anything which can bring relief, but surgery is something you should look into only after youve tried every other option. These surgeries are expensive and like all surgeries, there is a small risk of complications and post-surgical infections. While the surgery is often effective, it doesnt cure hyperhidrosis in every person, so keep in mind that you could end up paying for a surgery which doesnt resolve the issue!

Naturally, youre probably a little leery of resorting to surgery to treat your sleep hyperhidrosis. The problem can however become such an ordeal for the sufferer that they may finally decide that there is no other alternative. Surgery should always be your treatment of last resort, to be tried only when all else has failed.

Rather than resorting to something as invasive as surgery for sleep hyperhidrosis, try all of your other options first. There are inexpensive, painless natural treatments you can try which are often every bit as effective as the more expensive options. You can also try some very simple measures like changing your diet.

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