Is this the same as night sweats?

Night sweats refer to sweating that recurs during sleep, while cold sweats emphasize a pattern where the sweat feels cold regardless of the time. Since cold sweats can occur at night, the two terms sometimes overlap.

Which situations should be checked first?

Check for hypoglycemia if it occurs on an empty stomach or after taking diabetes medication; autonomic nervous system reactions if it follows severe pain or anxiety; and the possibility of infection if fever and chills are present.

What are the signs that prompt medical evaluation is needed?

Emergency evaluation is required if sudden cold sweats are accompanied by chest pain, difficulty breathing, paleness, a feeling of fainting, or changes in consciousness.

What information should be recorded?

Record the time of meals and medication, blood glucose levels if they could be measured, any pain, throbbing, or dizziness, and whether it occurred during the day or night.

For cold sweats, the activity at the time and accompanying symptoms are more important

Cold sweats refer to the feeling of the skin becoming cold and clammy even when it is not hot or when not exercising. They can occur during temporary situations such as tension, pain, or nausea, but if they appear suddenly along with chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, a feeling of fainting, or severe weakness, urgent causes must be checked first.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: General sweating includes normal reactions to lower body temperature, and hyperhidrosis is a condition where recurring excessive sweating interferes with daily life. Cold sweats are not explained solely as 'han-jeung' (cold dampness) or 'gi-heo' (Qi deficiency); instead, they are distinguished by accompanying symptoms that require immediate judgment, such as heart problems, hypoglycemia, infection, or drug reactions.
Information to record before your visit: Record the time the sweating started, the activity at the time, whether the skin was cold or pale, and the pulse, body temperature, and state of consciousness. Check for discomfort in the chest, back, jaw, or arms, as well as shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, the last meal, diabetes medication, any new medications, and the presence of fever; however, if emergency symptoms are present, do not delay seeking help to record these details.
Scope of this material: MedlinePlus materials were used to distinguish that cold sweats can be a warning sign of myocardial infarction. This page does not diagnose the cause of cold sweats based on body constitution or set a time for home observation. If chest pressure, difficulty breathing, fainting, or sudden severe weakness occur together, do not drive yourself and contact 119 immediately.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of cold sweats, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideAutonomic Dysfunction

Symptom and Disease GuideDohanjeung (hyperhidrosis) · night sweats

Heat and Cold ColumnNight sweats: sweating every night despite normal test results, why does this happen?

When night sweats recur even though no specific abnormalities were found in tests, we provide guidance on the criteria for night sweats, symptoms to re-examine, and the aspects considered in Korean medicine treatment.

Heat and Cold ColumnWhy menopausal facial flushing, night sweats, and sleep disturbances must be treated together

We explain the progression where menopausal facial heat and flushing lead to night sweats, chills, palpitations, and sleep disturbances, and provide guidance on Korean herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle management.

Heat and Cold ColumnReasons for feeling hot: Korean medicine treatment for when you cannot tolerate heat despite a normal body temperature

If your body always feels hot and you sweat a lot despite a normal body temperature, we categorize issues related to the thyroid, menopause, medication, and recovery capacity, and examine Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments tailored to heat sensitivity and accompanying symptoms.

Medical GuideHow do I distinguish between sweat on the hands, feet, armpits, face, or night sweats?

Sweating that has occurred symmetrically in specific areas such as the hands, feet, and armpits since childhood and decreases during sleep requires a different verification process than sweating that has recently developed across the whole body or at night. You should organize the affected areas, onset timing, sweating during sleep, medications being taken, and how it interferes with your daily life.

Medical GuideIf I have night sweats and changes in temperature sensation, is it an autonomic nervous system problem?

Changes in sweating and temperature sensation may be related to the autonomic nervous system, but that alone cannot confirm the cause. By reviewing the timing and location of sweating, throbbing, changes in weight and sleep, and test results to categorize the heat and cold patterns, we can find points where Korean medicine treatment can help.

Comparison of similar terms

Symptom ExpressionSweating

Sweating can be a normal response to exercise or heat, but if it recurs without a reason, it may be related to the thyroid, infection, menopause, medication, or autonomic nervous system responses. The timing, location, and accompanying symptoms must be considered together.

Symptom ExpressionNight sweats

Night sweats are symptoms where a large amount of sweat occurs repeatedly during sleep. In addition to indoor temperature, factors such as infection, hormonal changes, medication, and thyroid problems must be checked.

Conditions requiring differential diagnosisAutonomic Nerves

The autonomic nervous system regulates sweat, heart rate, digestion, and the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. While it may be related to feelings of heat or cold, a 'problem with the autonomic nervous system' cannot be confirmed by symptoms alone.

Medical TerminologyDifferential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing possible causes one by one through examination, testing, and monitoring progress, rather than determining a disease name based on a single symptom. This is the first and most necessary step for both sensations of heat and cold.