Why Does Alcohol Give You Night Sweats?

Have you ever woken up drenched in sweat after a night of heavy drinking? Then you are not alone, nor are you a phenomenon. Many people will experience this situation, as there are quite a few reasons why alcohol can have such an effect on your body. Bright Futures Treatment Center is an experienced Boynton Beach rehabilitation center, and it’s our job to help you find an answer to the question, ‘Why does alcohol give you night sweats?’ as well as learn what you can do about it.

What are the symptoms of night sweats?

If you are wondering whether alcohol can cause sweating at night, then you have probably already had your first encounter with this phenomenon. And while excessive sweating was one of the main symptoms that you have noticed, it certainly wasn’t the only one. Now, which symptoms you are going to notice during this episode is something that depends on your body and immunity. However, people frequently report having:

• Flushed skin
• Clammy hands
• Irregular and rapid heartbeat
• Thirst
• Dehydration
• Sleeping problems
• Headaches

Some of these sound like very common symptoms of a hangover. And while hangover night sweats do have some similar symptoms, it is not the same thing. Of course, both of these phenomena are related to alcohol, and both could be avoided simply by not consuming it.

Why does alcohol give you night sweats?

Why does alcohol give me night sweats? You might wonder. Alcohol affects your nervous system, heart rate, and body temperature, which can all lead to sweating during the night. It’s important to note that not all night sweats come from the same cause. For example, if you’re in alcohol withdrawal, those sweats are part of the detox process. If you’re in menopause, alcohol can make hot flashes worse. In both cases, alcohol adds stress to your body. And if you have ever wondered about this connection between alcohol and night sweats, then here’s some input coming straight from the experts in our alcohol rehab Boynton Beach facility.

Alcohol affects your heart and blood vessels

If you are someone who drinks fairly regularly, then you must have noticed how your heartbeat mysteriously becomes faster after you have consumed a few drinks. Your heart can not only beat too fast after drinking, but it can also beat irregularly. What happens next is a process called vasodilation, which is when the blood vessels in your skin widen, with the heart speeding up. They can then cause your skin to become hot and flushed, making you sweat more than usual. These sweats mostly happen at night because people tend to drink most in the evenings.

In addition to alcohol sweats, your body temperature also drops after drinking, putting you at a higher risk for hypothermia in cold weather and dehydration in warm weather. If you were to ask any of our clients who are currently in partial hospitalization Boynton Beach program because of alcohol consumption, they would tell you that they have experienced these symptoms rather regularly.

You can be intolerant to alcohol

This is something that not a lot of people realize, but you can actually be intolerant to alcohol. So, if you are wondering why alcohol causes night sweats, it’s time to look into your intolerance chart. This is a genetic disorder where your body doesn’t have sufficient enzyme activity to break down alcohol. This isn’t to be confused with an intolerance to something that is in a particular drink, as you can have a reaction to a certain ingredient and not alcohol as a category.

The symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:

• Facial flushing
• Excessive sweating
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate
• Low blood pressure

If you suspect that you suffer from alcohol intolerance, it’s best to turn to professionals. You can also feel free to turn to us. We’ve found out that many people who are currently in our outpatient rehab in Florida have an undiagnosed intolerance. It’s always better to know exactly what you are dealing with than to let it go undiagnosed.

Other causes of night sweats

Now, there are also night sweats that alcohol doesn’t cause. Multiple conditions share this symptom, such as previously mentioned menopause. Another reason why you might find yourself experiencing night sweats is due to medications. Alcohol can interact with many different groups of medications and cause a variety of symptoms, including sweating. That’s why it’s generally recommended to avoid drinking while medicated.

Of course, when it comes to alcoholism, medication might sometimes be a necessity. People who have been suffering from alcohol abuse for prolonged periods of time might not be able to solve their problem without Medically-Assisted Treatment in Boynton Beach. This program involves the use of FDA-approved medication that aims to help a person go through the process of withdrawal. These medications help with cravings, and they reduce the unpleasant effects of withdrawal.

How can you prevent alcohol from giving you night sweats?

The first way to ensure that you don’t suffer from any alcohol-related night sweats is by giving up alcohol and discovering the powerful benefits of sobriety. However, if you don’t want to give up this substance altogether, then there are some things you could do.

For starters, we suggest you limit the number of drinks you have. That’s the best way to ensure that you don’t go overboard. It’s generally considered safe to have two drinks per night, especially if they are well-spaced out. Another good way to avoid night sweats is to limit how many drinks you have per hour. It’s a general rule of thumb not to have more than one drink within an hour. People often ask, Can wine cause night sweats? Yes, it can – the same two-drink rule applies.

However, suffering from addiction can make it difficult to simply abide by these rules and control yourself. And this applies to drug addicts as well. People who are prone to addictions shouldn’t take unnecessary risks. If you are in a crack cocaine rehab in Florida, you are advised not to experiment with any substances.

Monitor your alcohol consumption and reaction

Moderate alcohol consumption on its own isn’t a problem.  The real issue ensues once your once innocent alcohol use turns into dependence. The good news is that most people can avoid getting to this place with some honesty and self-awareness.

Keep a close watch on yourself and how much alcohol you can drink without getting drunk. Is the number of drinks that you can drink without consequences slowly increasing? Do you find yourself in need of more alcohol and frequent night outs? Then that’s a good sign that you are on your way to developing an addiction.

If you notice that you have already changed your behavior and physical appearance, then chances are good that you are already addicted. Individuals with substance abuse problems become more solitary, they start evading the activities that used to bring them joy, and they start ignoring their responsibilities. This is usually paired with rising money problems and concerns.

If you notice the early signs of addiction, seek proper care. The good news is that there are many places where you can get all the help you need. From rehab facilities to AA meetings, all you need is a sufficient desire to get better.

Have someone monitor you

Now, you can monitor yourself only if you are 100% sure that you will be able to take the necessary measures. If you doubt your ability to stop drinking and seek help, then you should put someone else in charge. They can help you by holding interventions and bringing your attention to the problem at hand. Sometimes, all you need is someone else’s input to shake you up.

Pay close attention to who you decide to entrust with this duty. This person needs to be someone whom you trust 100%. Likewise, they need to be the kind of person who will have your best interests in mind. Usually, it’s best if this person is your close friend. Family members are sometimes too personally involved, which clouds their judgment and makes them take wrong actions. Friends, on the other hand, want only what’s best for you, but they are not impacted by familial bonds.

Alcohol won’t always give you night sweats

Now that you know how does alcohol give you night sweats, you might expect it to happen every time that you drink. That’s, of course, not going to be the case. Whether or not you will experience night sweats depends on a couple of things, including your body and the amount of alcohol that you drink. After all, drinking two drinks and calling it a night is not going to have the same effect as drinking the whole bottle. Moreover, even if you drink the same amount of alcohol every night, your body might react differently every time. If you’re unsure about your reaction to alcohol or think something deeper might be going on, contact us! Bright Futures Treatment Center in Boynton Beach is here to help you understand what’s really happening and support you through recovery.