Covid-19 and Night Sweats

Covid-19 can present itself with many symptoms, such as night sweats, that vary from person to person. To make matters even more complicated, it has multiple variants that present with slightly different symptoms. 

• Fever or chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Cough
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sore throat

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Sore throat

• Fever
• Body pain
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Night Sweats

The symptoms that show with the different variants of Covid-19 are very similar. In addition, flu symptoms are also highly similar to those of Covid-19. Therefore, the only way to verify if the illness causing these symptoms is Covid-19 is to take a covid test. However, night sweats do not only occur with acute Covid-19; they can also happen with post-acute Covid-19. 

Post-acute Covid-19, also known as long covid, is the presence of covid symptoms over 12 weeks before the occurrence of covid. Between 10% and 30% of people who contract covid will experience long covid, and there is no correlation between the severity of acute covid and the likelihood of developing long covid. The common symptoms of long covid are headaches, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, difficulty sleeping, fever, anxiety, depression, chest pain, rapid pulse, and night sweats.

Those suffering long covid often have a lot of trouble with sleeping, called covid insomnia. They often report having trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. Covid insomnia occurs due to poor sleep quality, sleep/wake schedule disturbances, and insomnia. Night sweats also contribute to the poor sleep quality in those suffering from long covid. 

The best way to combat night sweats in those suffering from both acute Covid-19 and post-acute Covid-19 is to develop good sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene consists of both a good bedroom environment and sleep-promoting routines. In addition, having good sleep hygiene is beneficial for mental and physical health, which makes sleep hygiene a central part of good health. Both children and adults can benefit from good sleep hygiene.

Sleep-promoting routines should have a solid bedtime and a set wake-up time, allowing your body to get into a rhythm. There should also be a thirty-minute period before bedtime devoted to relaxation. This period should ideally be device free so that there is no exposure to blue light or distractions. Relaxing music, stretching, reading, and having a warm tea (especially chamomile or lavender) are all relaxing activities to engage in before bed. 

A good bedroom environment prioritizes comfort. Investing in a comfortable mattress and pillows is essential to creating the perfect bedroom environment. A good mattress is a crucial part of a sleep-promoting bedroom. The bedroom temperature should be cool, ideally around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Especially for someone struggling with night sweats, fans are great for increased comfort. The Bedfan is especially great for those struggling with night sweats, as it blows air directly over the body.