Why Do Young and Middle-Aged People Often Experience Night Sweats?
In recent days, the number of patients visiting the TCM outpatient department for “night sweats” has risen sharply, accounting for about 30% of daily clinic visits, with most cases occurring in middle-aged and young adults aged 30–50.
Mr. Wang, aged 37, used to be in good health. Since late February, he has been waking up every night drenched in sweat, with soaked pajamas and dry mouth. Initially, he thought it was due to too thick bedding—caused by overheating. After switching to thinner bedding, symptoms persisted, affecting sleep quality, leading to dizziness and fatigue during the day, severely impacting work and studies. After “observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking,” doctors diagnosed him with “moderate night sweats.”
Dr. Pan Ruiliang, Chief Physician at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, explained that night sweats are a TCM term characterized by abnormal sweating during sleep, stopping upon waking. The mechanism behind night sweats in middle-aged and young adults differs from that in children caused by low blood calcium. Spring-to-autumn transitions are peak periods for such cases, primarily due to “yin deficiency.” In simple terms, after a long winter, the body’s stored “essence and qi” are depleted. When constitution declines, night sweats appear—accompanied by symptoms like hot flashes, flushed cheeks, restlessness, insomnia, and fatigue. Middle-aged and young adults face heavy work and family pressures, resulting in significant physical and mental exhaustion, likely leading to autonomic nervous system imbalance. Without timely replenishment of qi in daily life, they inevitably become susceptible to night sweats.
Experts warn that those with weaker constitutions should, after spring begins, undergo spring tonic supplementation under medical guidance. Diet-wise, consume more yin-nourishing and qi-tonifying foods such as red dates, black beans, walnuts, black sesame, black glutinous rice, and longan. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, avoid spicy foods, maintain a cheerful mood, and keep a regular lifestyle. When night sweats occur, monitor the cause carefully and seek medical advice if necessary—do not self-medicate or blindly supplement, to avoid adverse outcomes.