Causes of Night Sweats After Exercising
Health ConditionsSkin Conditions

What Causes Night Sweats After Exercising?

What Causes Night Sweats After Exercising?
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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You would think that sweating only happens when you’re working out. So why are you experiencing night sweats long after exercise? There could be several reasons, and it is more than likely that your night sweats are due to hormonal imbalances, underlying thyroid conditions, or even overtraining.

If you've found yourself waking up at night drenched in sweat, it could be cause for concern, especially if it is a new symptom. But knowing what night sweats are — and why they happen — can help you figure out when you need support from your healthcare team.

What Are Night Sweats?

Night sweats are repeated episodes of extreme perspiration during sleep that soak through your bedding or clothes. They are often related to an underlying health condition, and not because your room is too warm or you’re sleeping under too many blankets.

Generally, night sweats happen alongside other concerning symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, cough, diarrhea, or pain. But if you’re only experiencing night sweats after exercise, there could be several reasons.

Causes of Night Sweats After Working Out

Do you love running late at night or riding your Peloton while watching the evening news? This is one reason why you might be developing night sweats.

Exercise raises your core temperature, which triggers a brain response that causes you to sweat. So if you’re working out at night, you may be more likely to sweat because your body is trying to keep you cool.

 If you’re experiencing night sweats after exercising too close to bedtime, try keeping your bedroom temperature between 60 and 67 degrees F for optimal sleep.

Another common cause of night sweats could be exercise-induced hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. This can occur if you’re overtraining your body without eating enough food throughout the day. As a result, your blood sugar drops too low to give you the energy you need, causing symptoms like night sweats and a racing heart.

But age and sex also play a factor. Women who are around 50 years old and are experiencing menopause (when their hormone levels are fluctuating) may have a higher risk of experiencing night sweats after working out.

Medical Causes of Night Sweats

If you only experience a night sweat after an intense exercise session, it’s likely because you trained too close to bedtime or overworked your body. But several other reasons that don’t involve working out could be contributing to night sweats:

Fortunately, many of these causes of night sweats are treatable. If you’re experiencing new or worsening symptoms of night sweats, it’s a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider. They can help assess what’s causing your symptoms and, if necessary, recommend treatment options.

The Takeaway

  • Night sweats are episodes of extreme perspiration during sleep that cause you to soak through your clothes or sheets.
  • Working out before bed or overtraining your body are common causes of exercise-induced night sweats.
  • However, other medical conditions like bacterial infections, anxiety, and menopause may also be causing your night sweat symptoms.
  • If you have new or worsening night sweats, talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Night Sweats. Mayo Clinic. January 20, 2024.
  2. Night Sweats. Cleveland Clinic. September 6, 2022.
  3. Brim W. Staff Perspective: Night Sweats - About Nocturnal Hyperhidrosis. Uniformed Services University Center for Deployment Psychology. March 12, 2014.
  4. Bryan L. How Is Sleep Different For Men and Women? Sleep Foundation. July 10, 2025.
  5. Hypoglycemia: Nocturnal. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  6. Night Sweats. American Osteopathic Association.
  7. Night Sweats. Mayo Clinic.
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Kayli Anderson, RDN

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Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainabl...

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