https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/night-sweats-from-alcohol
Alcohol + Night Sweats is there a link???
Ever wander why you sweat when alcohol is consumed? I have the pleasure of sharing some perspective over on Refinery 29, just click the link above to view the entire article.
Alcohol consumption effects virtually every part of the body from the brain to the circulatory system, endocrine system, to the central nervous system. Physiologically the body can feel flushed, sweaty, hot, clammy, nauseated, light headed, fatigue, and even experience heart arrhythmia. Sweating in particular can happen at anytime during the day or night after consuming alcohol. Since alcohol is commonly consumed in the the evening hours, many people will experience night sweats.
Night sweats can be due to several different reasons after consuming alcohol depending on the person and the amount of alcohol regularly consumed. The heart and circulatory system effected by alcohol can speed up heart rate or cause heart irregularity which triggers vasodilation, a widening of blood vessels. This vasodilation moves warm blood closer to the surface of our skin, the largest organ of our body, causing the entire body to feel warm or flushed which in turn can trigger perspiration.
Another cause for night sweats is due to genetic alcohol intolerance which is when a person lacks enough of the specific enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that breaks down the alcohol which can trigger the body to feel flushed and cause increased sweating.
Night sweating commonly will effect people that have alcohol use disorder or AUD. When a person drinks excessively on a regular basis, this can trigger the body to sweat along with other physical symptoms like shaking, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and other mental or physical issues.
Depending on the person, menopause and certain medications mixed with alcohol can also exacerbate the sweating as well.
Dehydration can defiantly play a role in night or day sweats when consuming alcohol. Alcohol can be dehydrating to the body through increased urination, vomiting and perspiration.
Staying hydrated is a daily necessity for the body to function well but fluid requirements vary depending on gender, activity level, age, and environment or climate the person lives in. All fluid intake counts towards hydration not just water but when it comes to water, shoot for drinking when thirsty and try keeping water in rotation throughout he day by drinking and re-filling a 24-32 ounce water bottle. When specifically drinking alcohol a good rule of thumb is drink at least 8-10 ounces or more of water before drinking an alcoholic beverage and alternate water between alcoholic beverages. Keeping an electrolyte fluid in rotation like coconut water will also help the body rehydrate and stay on a good hydration track.
There is not enough scientific data to know whether certain alcohols trigger more sweating then other forms of alcohol but a good rule of thumb is to know that when consuming any type of alcohol there is a possibility a person will experience sweating in general and night sweating depending on the person.
Currently the recommended serving for women is one alcoholic beverage per day and for men it is two. Going into the summer months where wine and cocktails will be flowing along with the extra heat from the sun, staying hydrated will be very important. I always encourage everyone to use good judgment when consuming alcohol and know that it can have very unpleasant effects to the body. Thank you for stopping by, I hope this was super helpful. I strive to bring scientific, evidence base nutrition and wellness to you and I appreciate the time you spend here on this page. Cheers!
