"Don't ignore them" — common causes of night sweats and how to stop them, according to a sleep and menopause expert

An older woman lying in bed sweating with her hand on her forehead.

Any number of things can keep you from getting a good night’s rest. Among common offenders, night sweats affect as much as 41 percent of primary care patients.

But how can you tell if you’re actually experiencing night sweats—or if you simply run hot or have a sub-optimal sleep environment?