Why Do You Sweat When Quitting Alcohol? An Explanation

sweating after drinking

Sweating when you quit drinking is your body reacting to changes brought on by reducing or eliminating alcohol intake. Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a cool sleep environment can help manage alcohol sweat. Night sweats can persist for a few days to several weeks after quitting drinking, depending on your level of dependency and individual health factors. Besides consuming alcohol, there are other triggers for night sweats. This condition, often genetic, triggers various symptoms when you consume alcohol.

Symptoms

sweating after drinking

In some cases, extreme sweating may be due to a severe and sometimes life-threatening condition. See a healthcare provider right away if you have chest pain or feel nauseous or dizzy along with sweating symptoms. Treatment for hyperhidrosis varies based on the part of the body affected, the severity of your diagnosis and what treatment options work for you.

sweating after drinking

The Science Behind Night Sweats

This article covers the possible causes of alcohol-related night sweats, including how to manage night sweats after drinking. We also look at the first signs of liver damage from alcohol and when to contact a doctor. Remember, if you experience night sweats occasionally, seek a thorough medical evaluation. People with alcohol intolerance develop symptoms when they start drinking.

  • See a healthcare provider right away if you have chest pain or feel nauseous or dizzy along with sweating symptoms.
  • However, if you start to notice symptoms such as excessive sweating after drinking alcohol, it might be time examine your habits.
  • Profuse sweating can be dangerous because it can dehydrate you.
  • This is the equivalent of one 12-ounce beer, a 1.5-ounce spirit or a 5-ounce glass of wine, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
  • The hypothalamus (a region of the brain) is responsible for controlling the nervous system and body temperature.

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

sweating after drinking

After detox, transitioning to a residential treatment program can offer comprehensive support for recovering from alcohol addiction. These programs provide structured care, including therapy, counseling, and support groups, which are essential for long-term recovery. The sweating can be intense and is often accompanied by other withdrawal symptoms such as shaking rapid heartbeat, and severe anxiety.

  • When your body has this mutation, it can’t produce the enzymes that break down the toxins in alcohol.
  • Alcohol affects our nervous system in complex ways, leading to symptoms like excessive sweating or “night sweats”.
  • The detox process can be challenging, but specialized treatment programs provide a safe and supportive environment.
  • “Flop sweat” is a colloquialism often ascribed to the sudden and profuse outbreak of sweat, most often in association with jitters and nerves.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Signs & Treatment

  • Besides consuming alcohol, there are other triggers for night sweats.
  • This occurs when alcohol affects the nervous system and how the body regulates and senses body temperature, blood pressure, and heart activity.
  • If you’re experiencing night sweats due to excessive alcohol consumption or withdrawal, managing your symptoms can feel overwhelming.
  • Alcohol withdrawal is a challenging condition that manifests both physically and mentally when a regular drinker suddenly reduces or stops alcohol intake.
  • Certain medications like antidepressants can cause night sweats as well.
  • Research suggests that an estimated 3% of adults in the United States between ages 20 and 60 have hyperhidrosis.

It can also decrease the production of the hormone vasopressin, which regulates our body’s fluid balance, leading to dehydration and increased thirst. Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system, leading to a range of physical and psychological effects. When we consume alcohol, it can cause our bodies to become dehydrated, leading to increased thirst and a need to urinate more frequently. These effects can contribute to night sweats, as our bodies attempt to regulate our temperature and maintain proper hydration levels during sleep. While sweating itself isn’t dangerous, it can signal serious withdrawal effects like dehydration or alcohol poisoning.

sweating after drinking

When to Seek Medical Advice for Night Sweats After Drinking

  • Start by speaking with your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause of your condition.
  • It may surprise you to know that there are unofficial support groups for people with hyperhidrosis.
  • Hyperhidrosis is diagnosed based on the severity of perspiration in the absence of heat or excessive exercise.
  • But there’s no easy way to know how much you can safely drink and still avoid a hangover.
  • In some cases, cutting back on or quitting alcohol may be one component of this plan.

Some people, however, cannot tolerate even small amounts of alcohol. This condition, known as alcohol intolerance, may be due to a lack of aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme necessary to break down alcohol. Symptoms include skin flushing, excessive sweating and gastrointestinal distress.

sweating after drinking

Night Sweats After Drinking: Causes and Management Tips

(1) Individuals experiencing alcohol night sweats may wake up feeling cold due to the body’s production of sweat in response to alcohol consumption. Remember that night sweats can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition or lifestyle factor. In some cases, cutting back on or quitting alcohol may be one component of this plan.

Secondary Hyperhidrosis

Night sweats can interrupt sleep, as some people must get out of bed to make them stop, change their clothes or change their bedding. Repeated episodes can lead to poor sleep and then fatigue the following day. One of the best ways to avoid a sweating episode is to identify the triggers that set them off (such as caffeine or nicotine).

7 hangover remedies

Their crucial work saves lives every day.Let Mayo Clinic researchers know they’re appreciated with a quick message. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. These symptoms must greatly affect and cause you not to do well sweating after drinking in school, work, or relationships.