It’s not unusual to sweat while you sleep – if your bedding or pyjamas cause you to overheat or the room is particularly hot, it’s normal to perspire and wake up the next morning feeling a bit clammy. What’s not normal, however, is experiencing night sweats.

Night sweats are episodes of excessive sweating that occur during sleep. Rather than feeling a little damp, night sweats tend to be so profuse that they can soak through your nightwear. The sheets beneath you feel wet, as does your skin – despite the room being at a comfortable temperature.

One-off instances of night sweats can occur due to innocuous or temporary factors, such as being unwell with a fever. If you regularly experience night sweats, however, it’s worth investigating the root cause.

Keep waking up with soaking wet sheets? Here’s what causes night sweats, and what you need to do to stop them