What Causes Night Sweats in Women Over 70?
Common among postmenopausal women, night sweats are also commonly associated with the ingestion of specific medications and certain medical conditions. Older women who take depression medications, hypoglycemic agents and hormone-regulating therapy are at a high risk of night sweats, according to Mayo Clinic.
From a clinical perspective, older women may experience night sweats because of a medical disorder, medications or and certain supplements. An overactive thyroid is a common medical issue that leads to night sweats in elderly women, as Mayo Clinic explains. Still, drugs and supplements such as antidepressants and breathing medications can cause night sweats, and drug interactions can also lead to the effect. Diabetes patients taking high blood pressure medication can also experience excessive sweating because of a drop in blood sugar levels. In rare instances, extreme anxiety, tumors and dyscrasias can lead to sweating both at night and early in the morning.
Age does not influence the frequency of night sweats for postmenopausal women, but it could be a concern for women over the age of 70, according to Mayoclinic. Medical checkups are necessary for these women, but physicians should ensure that the medication prescribed is non-hormonal for such patients. Additionally, even young women who report similar symptoms should use non-hormonal medications.
