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Night sweats occur because alcohol can affect the nervous system and how the body regulates and senses body temperature, blood pressure, and heart activity. Share on PinterestTom Lao/EyeEmGetty Images A note about sex and genderSex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms, “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more. Night sweats may also result from alcohol withdrawal or alcohol intolerance. For people who already experience night sweats, including those going through menopause, consuming alcohol can worsen the sweating. Home remedies can usually help manage alcohol-induced night sweats. Such home remedies may include staying hydrated and keeping the bedroom at a comfortable temperature. People with alcohol dependency or intolerance should speak with a doctor. This article covers the possible causes of night sweats and alcohol, including how to manage night sweats after drinking. We also look at the first signs of liver damage from alcohol and what cancers may cause night sweats. Causes Alcohol can cause night sweats in several different ways. People may sweat more after drinking due to the below reasons. Effects on the heart and blood vessels Alcohol affects the body in many ways, and this includes its effects on the heart. It can cause the heart rate to become too fast or the heart rhythm to become irregular. With alcohol intake, the blood vessels in the skin tend to widen when the heart rate speeds up. This process is called vasodilation. Dilated blood vessels cause the skin to feel warm and flushed, which can trigger the release of sweat. This sweating could occur at any time of day. However, as many people drink alcohol in the evening, night sweats are common. While many people feel warm after drinking alcohol, the core body temperature drops as blood moves from the core to the skin through dilated blood vessels. Sweat also removes heat from the body. People may not realize that because of this, they are at risk of hypothermia in cold weather. During hot weather, they may begin to experience nausea and dizziness with dehydration in addition to sweating. Alcohol withdrawal People who drink heavily or regularly may have night sweats several hours or days after consuming alcohol. Night sweats are a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, often affecting people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a 2019 survey suggested that 14.5 million people aged 12 years and older in the United States had AUD. This figure includes 9 million males and 5.5 million females. Night sweats due to alcohol withdrawal are usually temporary but may last several days. Other withdrawal symptoms include:aches and painsanxiety and depressionheadacheloss of appetitenauseashakingsleep problems, including insomnia and nightmares Some more severe symptoms include:vomitingfeverhallucinationsseizures A person should seek immediate medical attention if they experience these symptoms. Alcohol intolerance Alcohol intolerance is a genetic disorder where the body does not have enough of the enzyme activity necessary to break down alcohol. One of the most common symptoms of alcohol intolerance is facial flushing, which can also cause excessive sweating. Other symptoms include:low blood pressurenauseaheadachefatiguerapid heartbeat Sometimes, a person may appear to have alcohol intolerance but react to another ingredient in a drink. Doctors may use allergy tests to determine whether or not alcohol is the issue. Other factors Other factors, such as menopause or medication use, commonly cause hot flashes and night sweats. Drinking alcohol may make these symptoms worse. However, hot flashes and sweating can also affect other people, since alcohol can impact the endocrine system. This system makes and secretes hormones that can contribute to these symptoms. First symptoms of liver damage from alcohol A person may not experience any symptoms or signs of liver damage or scarring, which people call cirrhosis, until the liver is badly damaged. Early symptoms of liver damage may include:tiredness or weaknessreduced appetitelosing weight without tryingnausea and vomitingmild pain or discomfort in the abdomen A person should speak with a doctor if these symptoms do not improve. Without diagnosis and treatment, it could lead to liver complications. Alcohol-related liver disease also does not usually cause symptoms until the liver is severely damaged. Severe symptoms can include:jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skinswelling in the ankles and abdomenconfusion or drowsinessvomiting blood or blood in stool A person must seek immediate medical attention if they experience the above. Read more about the severe symptoms to expect. What cancers cause night sweats Night sweats and hot flashes are common in people receiving cancer treatment. Some people continue to have these symptoms even after treatment. In some cases, certain cancers may cause a person to sweat more than usual. These include:non-Hodgkin lymphomaHodgkin lymphomacarcinoid tumorsleukemiamesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that usually stems from exposure to asbestosbone cancerliver cancer People should speak with a doctor to discuss any concerns about their risk of experiencing night sweats. Learn more about night sweats and cancer. Treatment People experiencing mild night sweats from occasional alcohol consumption may find relief using home remedies. These include:drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and replace fluids someone has lost through sweatshowering to remove excess salt and sweat from the skinkeeping the bedroom at a comfortable temperature for sleepremoving excess blankets and wearing light pajamas People with alcohol intolerance may need to avoid drinking alcohol to stop night sweats from occurring. Some individuals could improve their symptoms by limiting the amount of alcohol they consume. People experiencing alcohol withdrawal relating to alcohol dependency should consider seeking urgent medical attention. A doctor can provide information and guidance on how to avoid alcohol. Outlook Sweating is a common effect of drinking alcohol. For many people, night sweats may have links to their alcohol consumption for a particular occasion. However, it should not have any lasting effects. People who experience night sweats regularly after drinking may have an issue with alcohol. There are many risks of long-term alcohol use, including cancer and liver damage. For this reason, seeking help is advisable. Those who believe they have AUD or alcohol intolerance should speak with their doctor. Night sweating may also be a sign of certain types of cancers, which a person can discuss with their oncologist. Others who regularly experience night sweats, especially if they have additional symptoms, should also make an appointment with their doctor to determine the underlying issue. Last medically reviewed on August 22, 2022EndocrinologyAlcohol / Addiction / Illegal DrugsSleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia 12 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Alcohol's effects on the body. (n.d.).https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-bodyAlcohol facts and statistics. (2022).https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statisticsAlcohol flush reaction. (2022).https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-flush-reactionAlcohol's effects on the body. (n.d.).https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-bodyBrunner, S., et al. (2017). Alcohol consumption, sinus tachycardia, and cardiac arrhythmias at the Munich Octoberfest: Results from the Munich Beer Related Electrocardiogram Workup Study (MunichBREW).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5837309/Causes of sweating. (2021).https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/skin-problems/dealing-with-sweating/causesHot flashes and night sweats (PDQ®) – Patient version. (2021).https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/hot-flashes-pdqKudo, R., et al. (2015). Effect of alcohol on vascular function [Abstract].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502571Meiman, J., et al. (2015). Hypothermia-related deaths - Wisconsin, 2014, and United States, 2003–2013.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6406a2.htmOverview: Alcohol-related liver disease. (2018).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease-arld/Symptoms & causes of cirrhosis. (2018).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis/symptoms-causesTachycardia: Fast heart rate. (2016).http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/tachycardia--fast-heart-rateFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Jayne Leonard — Updated on August 22, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat is hyperhidrosis?Medically reviewed by University of Illinois Hyperhidrosis is a condition that involves excessive sweating. It may affect the whole body or just specific areas. Although it might be embarrassing…READ MOREHow the body processes alcoholMedically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD How long does it take for the body to process alcohol? 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