Cold sweat: causes, treatment

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Cold sweat is often a sign of many different diseases when accompanied by many other symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, etc. If you feel like your condition is getting worse, go to the hospital for emergency care.

1. What is a cold sweat?

Cold sweats are used to describe a feeling of chills associated with night sweats (sweating when sick or taking medication). Dizziness and cold sweats are often two symptoms associated with an abnormal condition in the body.
Distinguished from normal sweating, which occurs only when the body reacts to stressors and cools the body during high ambient temperature or strenuous activity.

2. Symptoms

Symptoms of cold sweats vary from person to person depending on the cause. Among them, the most common symptoms include:
Sweating Chills Rough skin or wet palms Irritability

3. Cause

Cold sweats can be caused by many different causes, typically infection, fever, stress, or underlying problems like heart attack, low blood sugar. It can even be caused by hormonal changes during menopause and pregnancy. Specifically as follows:
3.1. Dizziness Dizziness is dizziness caused by feeling like the room around you is moving when it's not. It is usually caused by problems with your inner ear and its connections to the brain.
Many people have cold sweats that can be accompanied by dizziness , which is a phenomenon where everything around is moving, when in reality it is stationary. You should see your doctor if you notice any other symptoms associated with cold sweats, dizziness, such as:
Eyeball tremors Blurry vision, double vision Difficulty walking Unusual weakness or numbness Ù Ears Difficulty speaking or slurred speech

3.2. Shock Cold sweats can be a sign of shock, which is an emergency, if the body doesn't get enough oxygen or blood for too long. In addition to cold sweats, other typical symptoms of shock include:
Pale skin Rapid breathing Increased heart rate Nausea or vomiting Unusual dilated pupils Weakness or exhaustion Dizziness Anxiety or nervousness
3.3. Infection or sepsis With sepsis, inflammation can occur throughout the body, causing blood to clot or spill out of a blood vessel. This makes it difficult for the organs to receive fresh blood and oxygen, which in turn causes cold sweats.
Infection occurs due to bacteria or viruses in the blood attacking organs in the body. This causes the immune system to react against the infection, causing widespread inflammation. This causes a series of severe reactions that can be life-threatening. If any of the following symptoms appear, go to the hospital for immediate medical attention:
High fever Cold and shivering Disorientation Rapid breathing Increased heart rate Shortness of breath Loss of consciousness 3.4. Severe pain from trauma Pain from trauma, such as a broken bone or a blow to the head, can cause cold sweats because the organs aren't getting enough oxygen.
Taking pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil), can help relieve severe pain and prevent cold sweats. Talk to your doctor before taking an NSAID to make sure it's safe for you.
3.5. Stress or anxiety Stress or anxiety caused by work, family, or school pressures can cause cold sweats. Besides, it also causes other symptoms such as:
Unexplained pain Vomiting Muscle tension Anxiety disorders can disrupt life and cause long-term health effects. See your doctor if you suspect you have an anxiety disorder to find out the cause and appropriate treatment.

3.6. Migraines Migraines can cause cold sweats when they occur. It can be debilitating and life-disrupting. See your doctor if your migraine keeps you from performing daily tasks or if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Difficulty speaking Blurred vision or loss of vision Feeling numb or weak one side of the body Hearing bogus sounds Feeling extremely sensitive to sound or light Feeling dizzy, confused, or disoriented 3.7. Hypoxia Hypoxia is a condition in which the organs in the body are not supplied with enough oxygen. It usually occurs when breathing in insufficient oxygen, inhaling smoke, or going to high altitudes. When the brain doesn't get enough oxygen, called cerebral hypoxia, it can react with cold sweats and other symptoms such as:
Difficulty walking or controlling other movements of the brain Difficulty paying attention Loss of judgment Difficulty breathing Severe lack of oxygen can make you unconscious or comatose. Seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of hypoxia.
3.8. Low blood pressure Low blood pressure can cause a lack of oxygen to the brain and other organs in the body. Besides causing cold sweat, there are other symptoms such as:
Dizziness Blurred vision Urinary incontinence Exhaustion You should go to the hospital for prompt medical attention when symptoms appear of prolonged hypotension, as it can cause life-threatening shock.
3.9. Menopause Menopause causes an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body. Along with hot flashes, cold sweats are also among the most noticeable symptoms of menopause.
Other common symptoms that can occur during menopause include:
Change in menstrual cycle Urinating incontinence Difficulty sleeping Changes in mood or mental state Weight gain Less pleasure when sex due to vaginal dryness or hormone changes
3.10.Increased sweating Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which you sweat more than usual. It can cause cold sweats without warning.
Hyperhidrosis is usually not a cause for concern, especially if it occurs without any other symptoms.
Hyperhidrosis can run in families and is not a sign of a medical condition. If hyperhidrosis is affecting your life, see your doctor.
3.11. Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels fall below normal. The body reacts to low blood sugar in a similar way to hypoxia.
If you have diabetes, go to the hospital right away to get your blood sugar back to normal.
Eating sugary foods or drinks like juices and energy bars can also help restore blood sugar levels in just a short period of time.
3.12. Heart attack Cold sweats can be one of the first signs of a heart attack. Go to the hospital right away if suddenly cold sweats are combined with any of the following symptoms:
Chest pain, feeling of being pulled, squeezing, or bloating Difficulty breathing Pain in the neck, jaw, stomach or back Dizziness dizzy

4. Treatment

Depending on the cause of the cold sweat, there are different treatments. But in general, you need to:
Drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated Exercise regularly Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol In case of hypoxia, you need to take deep breaths to restore oxygen levels. Meditation and relaxation techniques can help calm anxiety or stress.
In addition, you may need to take certain medications to reduce sweating such as:
Prescription antiperspirants Nerve blockers that stop the nerves that tell the brain to sweat Antidepressants Injections botox

5. When to see a doctor

If you are in shock, infection, are seriously injured or have a heart attack, you need to go to the hospital for help right away. In addition, in the following cases, you should also see a doctor immediately:
Blueish discoloration of fingernails or lips Feeling of tightness in the throat Less alert than usual Vomiting blood or passing blood in the stool If sweating If a cold is caused by menopause or anxiety, it's important to see your doctor to develop a symptom management plan.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for examination, treatment and prevention of diseases. When performing the examination process at Vinmec, customers will be welcomed and used modern facilities and equipment along with perfect medical services under the guidance and advice of experts. Good doctors, well-trained both at home and abroad.

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Reference sources: .healthline.com, health.com