Unlike normal sweating, cold sweats are the feeling of being chilled or shivering while sweaty at the same time. It’s sometimes described as feeling “clammy.” Many people with cold sweats experience them at night while sleeping and describe waking up drenched in sweat and freezing cold. Cold sweats are a strange and uncomfortable feeling that can interrupt sleep and daily activities, yet the causes of cold sweats are treatable.
People can feel cold sweats anywhere on the body and, depending on the cause, may experience other symptoms simultaneously, like nervousness, fever, or exhaustion.
There are many causes of cold sweats, including menopause, stress and anxiety, panic attacks, fever or infection, sepsis, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), hyperhidrosis, night sweats, heat exhaustion or heatstroke, hormone disorders or hormone changes, alcohol or drug use, and some medications. A fever breaking can also cause cold sweats.
There are more serious medical conditions that cause cold sweats, including heart attack, some types of cancer, and Crisponi syndrome. One rare cause of cold sweats is cold-induced hyperhidrosis, sometimes called cold-induced sweating syndrome.
Some medications are known to cause night sweats, which can lead to cold sweats. For instance, antidepressants and steroids like prednisone may cause one to sweat while sleeping and then wake up feeling chilly or cold.
Cold sweats are a common symptom that may be caused by menopause, stress or anxiety, panic attacks, fever or infection, sepsis, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), hyperhidrosis, night sweats, heat exhaustion or heatstroke, hormone disorders or hormone changes, alcohol or drug use, some medications, some cancers, heart attack, Crisponi syndrome, and cold-induced hyperhidrosis.
Typically, cold sweats do not require immediate medical attention, but some underlying causes, like sepsis, are life-threatening and warrant a visit to the emergency room.
Most common causes of cold sweats do not require treatment. They typically resolve without treatment within an hour.
Treatments of cold sweats vary by cause. Read more about treatments for menopause, anxiety, sepsis, and hyperhidrosis.
Cold sweats can be managed by wearing lightweight clothing, especially while sleeping, creating a cool sleeping environment, and taking medication as directed by a doctor. Some causes can be managed with meditation, exercise, and a healthy diet.
Save on prescriptions for cold sweats with a SingleCare prescription discount car
There are many underlying conditions, plus some behaviors and environments, that can cause cold sweats. Most of them are non-life-threatening.
Common causes of cold sweats include:
Menopause
Stress or anxiety
Fever or infection
Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, which is the result of an overactive sympathetic nervous system
Night sweats, which can be the result of consuming alcohol, a sleeping environment that’s too warm, some medications, menopause, hyperthyroidism, mood disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and obesity
Heat exhaustion or heatstroke
Hormone disorders or hormone changes
Some medications, including antidepressants and some steroids like prednisone, cause sweating as a side effect (called diaphoresis)
Heart attack
Less common causes of cold sweats include:
Sepsis, or septic shock, which is a life-threatening medical emergency
Crisponi syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition typically diagnosed in infants
Cold-induced sweating syndrome, also known as cold-induced hyperhidrosis
Some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, as well as some cancer treatments
Usually, the cause of cold sweats is not life-threatening. Many causes, like menopause, hormonal changes, and hyperhidrosis, are not dangerous and can be effectively treated or managed at home or under the care of a primary care provider.
If left untreated, heart attack, sepsis, bacterial or viral infections, heatstroke, and cancers can be deadly, and low blood sugar is dangerous for those who have diabetes.
Usually, cold sweats will resolve within an hour. If the feeling persists or worsens, contact a medical provider. Seek immediate medical help at an emergency room if the following are also experienced:
Dizziness or light-headedness
Confusion
Nausea or vomiting
Cyanosis, which is when the skin, lips, or nails turn blue
Racing heart
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Arm pain
Jaw stiffness
Shoulder pain
If cold sweats make it difficult to sleep or interrupt normal daily activities, or if there is unexplained weight loss, seek advice from a healthcare provider. They can offer advice on possible causes and the best treatments.
There are several conditions that can cause cold sweats, and only a healthcare provider can accurately diagnose them.
To determine the cause of cold sweats, a healthcare provider may begin by asking questions about symptoms, lifestyle and habits, and health history. For example:
When did the cold sweats start?
How often do cold sweats occur?
Do they happen at a specific time of day or during a specific activity?
What other symptoms are happening?
What medications do you take?
If alcohol is consumed, how much?
Do you feel depressed or anxious??
They may also conduct a physical exam to rule out some conditions. To evaluate for infection, for instance, they may:
Take your temperature
Check blood pressure and heart rate
Palpate the neck to check for swollen lymph nodes
Listen to the heartbeat and breathing with a stethoscope
Look at the throat and ears with an otoscope
Conduct blood tests
Conduct rapid diagnostic tests
A doctor may also choose to evaluate one for signs of a heart attack by:
Conducting an electrocardiogram (EKG)
Ordering blood tests
Ordering heart imaging tests
Conducting a physical exam
The provider will also consider age, sex, and family medical history when diagnosing.
To rule out the possibility of cancers, they may order lab tests and imaging, like CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs.
If the provider believes the cause of cold sweats may be related to menopause or a hormonal change, they may refer patients to a gynecologist or endocrinologist. If anxiety, stress, or panic attacks are causing cold sweats, the doctor may recommend a visit to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
Few cold sweats causes are contagious. However, if the source of the symptoms is related to an infection, the infection itself may be contagious.
To prevent the spread of infection:
Wash hands with soap and water
Cover the mouth when coughing
Stay home if you have a fever or are feeling unwell
Keep vaccinations up to date
Cold sweats or the feeling of being clammy typically lasts for an hour or less and resolves without treatment.
People who are experiencing menopause, perimenopause, or other hormone changes, and those with conditions like hyperhidrosis or anxiety disorders, may experience cold sweats regularly.
If cold sweats make it hard to sleep or interrupt normal day-to-day activities, contact a healthcare provider.
People whose symptoms worsen or who have cold sweats that last more than an hour should seek emergency medical care. If dizziness, light-headedness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, arm or chest pain, racing heart, difficulty breathing, or jaw stiffness is experienced, or if the skin or nails turn blue, visit the nearest emergency room.
Cold sweat treatments depend on the source of the problem. Many common causes of cold sweats don’t require emergency medical help and can be effectively treated at home.
Home remedies
How to get rid of cold sweats depends on the cause, but making some lifestyle adjustments can help stop them from happening.
Reduce alcohol consumption or discontinue drug use
Adjust the sleeping environment by wearing lighter clothes, using fewer blankets or lighter bedding, using a fan, or turning on an air conditioner
If the cause is hypoglycemia, eat small snacks and don’t skip meals to maintain proper blood glucose levels
Medications
The doctor may recommend medication for the cause of cold sweats.
Hyperhidrosis is typically treated with antiperspirants, Botox, and other medications, including Drysol (aluminum chloride hexahydrate), Qbrexza (glycopyrrolate), and Ditropan (oxybutynin) that can help treat the affected sweat glands.
Anxiety can be treated with psychotherapy and medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram), and Paxil (paroxetine).
Sepsis and other serious infections are treated with antibiotics.
Menopause symptoms are sometimes treated with hormone therapy or non-hormonal treatments such as Paxil (paroxetine) and Veozah (fezolinetant).
The doctor is the best source for guidance on how to treat cold sweats. Sometimes, medications can be used to treat the underlying cause. If one suspects cold sweats may be a side effect of a medication being taken, talk to the doctor about adjusting prescriptions or dosage.
People with certain conditions may experience cold sweats regularly, which can be uncomfortable and disrupt daily life. The best way to manage cold sweats long-term depends on the cause, but people with recurrent episodes may find it helpful to:
Create a cool sleeping environment with a fan or air conditioner
Wear light-weight clothing, especially to sleep, and use breathable blankets and sheets
Manage stress and anxiety by reducing alcohol and tobacco use and by maintaining wellness with meditation, yoga, exercise, psychotherapy, eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep
Always take medications as directed by the doctor, and consult their advice before changing medication regimens or dosage.
Cold sweats causes may include menopause, stress or anxiety, panic attacks, fever or infection, sepsis, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), hyperhidrosis, night sweats, heat exhaustion or heatstroke, hormone disorders or hormone changes, alcohol or drug use, some medications, some cancers, heart attack, Crisponi syndrome, and cold-induced hyperhidrosis.
The causes of cold sweats may resolve on their own without treatment. However, if cold sweats continue, worsen, or are accompanied by unexplained weight loss, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, light-headedness or confusion, arm or chest pain, jaw stiffness, racing heart, difficulty breathing, or a bluish tint to the skin or nails, it could be a sign of a condition that requires immediate medical treatment.
Only a healthcare provider can rule out serious health conditions. Visit a doctor to determine the best treatment options for cold sweats.
Persistent night sweats: diagnostic evaluation, American Family Physician
Causes of sweating, Cancer Research UK
Common causes of night sweats: A guide to identification and investigation, British Medical Journal
Can you recognize a heart attack or stroke? What to do when every moment counts, NIH News in Health
Heart attack: diagnosis, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Successful treatment of cold-induced sweating in Crisponi syndrome and its possible mechanism of action, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Hypoglycemia in diabetes: An update on pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention, World Journal of Diabetes
Why you should seek care from a menopause specialist, Duke Health
Menopause treatments and medications, Singlecare
Anxiety treatments and medications, Singlecare
Sepsis treatments and medications, Singlecare
Hyperhidrosis treatments and medications, Singlecare
Cancer treatment: dealing with hot flashes and night sweats, MedlinePlus
Cold-induced sweating syndrome: a report of two cases and demonstration of genetic heterogeneity, Journal of Neurological Science
Night sweats: A systematic review of the literature, Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
A systematic evidence-based review of treatments for primary hyperhidrosis, Journal of Drug Assessment
Acquired idiopathic cold-induced hyperhidrosis in a case of dementia with Lewy bodies, Neurology: Clinical Practice
Hyperhidrosis, Cleveland Clinic
Hyperhidrosis, Cedars Sinai
Diaphoresis, Cleveland Clinic
10 causes of night sweats—and when to worry, Singlecare
Night sweats, American Osteopathic Association
Night sweats, NI Direct UK
What causes sepsis? Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, Singlecare
The Difference Between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke: When to Sweat It and Seek Care, Comanche County Memorial Hospital
Cyanosis, Cleveland Clinic
5 warning signs of a heart attack that you may not know, The Heart Foundation
Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH, is a board-certified family physician, writer, editor, teacher, and consultant. She is a graduate of University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and trained at West Suburban Family Medicine in Oak Park, Illinois. She later completed a fellowship in community medicine at PCC Community Wellness and a master's in Public Health at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She lives with her family near Chicago.
...(Except Major Holidays)
© 2024 SingleCare Administrators. All Rights Reserved.
* Prescription savings vary by prescription and by pharmacy, and may reach up to 80% off cash price.
Pharmacy names, logos, brands, and other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
This is a prescription discount plan. This is NOT insurance nor a Medicare prescription drug plan. The range of prescription discounts provided under this discount plan will vary depending on the prescription and pharmacy where the prescription is purchased and can be up to 80% off the cash price. You are fully responsible for paying your prescriptions at the pharmacy at the time of service, but you will be entitled to receive a discount from the pharmacy in accordance with the specific pre-negotiated discounted rate schedule. Pharmacy names, logos, brands, and other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Towers Administrators LLC (operating as 'SingleCare Administrators') is the authorized prescription discount plan organization with its administrative office located at 4510 Cox Road, Suite 111, Glen Allen, VA 23060. SingleCare Services LLC ('SingleCare') is the vendor of the prescription discount plan, including their website.website at www.singlecare.com. For additional information, including an up-to-date list of pharmacies, or assistance with any problems related to this prescription drug discount plan, please contact customer service toll free at 844-234-3057, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except major holidays). By using the SingleCare prescription discount card or app, you agree to the SingleCare Terms and Conditions found at https://www.singlecare.com/terms-and-conditions
© 2024 SingleCare Administrators. All Rights Reserved.