A doctor has issued a warning about a common cancer symptom that often goes unnoticed during sleep. On the MrDr_HQ TikTok page, a medical expert pointed out many patients ‘overlook’ this crucial sign, and it could mean sufferers catch the illness later.
While night sweats can be attributed to various factors including certain medications, substance use, or some harmless conditions, they should not be ignored as they can be a sign of something more sinister. The healthcare professional emphasised that night sweats could be a symptom of various cancers.
“Night sweats [are] a very, very important symptom that tend to be overlooked by people,” he explained. He noted that they could be linked to any type of cancer, as well as severe infections like TB (tuberculosis).
The doctor also mentioned other potential causes such as inflammatory diseases and hormonal imbalances.
“If you have night sweats, make sure you speak to your doctor about it,” he recommended.
NHS guidance advises: “Most people sweat during the night. If you regularly wake up with soaking wet sheets you should get it checked by a GP.”
The health service notes that while GPs typically won’t treat night sweats as an isolated symptom, they will investigate for other potential conditions.
Night sweats can sometimes signal cancer, but more often they are caused by other factors such as menopause, anxiety, and certain medications including some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers.
Other causes can include low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), substance use, or hyperhidrosis—a benign condition leading to excessive sweating.
Occasionally, the cause of night sweats may remain unidentified. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if you frequently experience night sweats that disturb your sleep or cause concern.
You should also plan to see your doctor if the night sweats occur alongside a high temperature, chills, a cough, or diarrhoea, or if they happen alongside unexplained weight loss.