Doctors Note Logo

Back

Published on: 5/6/2025

What Could Cause Chest Pain and Sweating at Night?

Chest pain and sweating at night can be a sign of a heart problem or a lung issue, such as a pulmonary embolism.

answer background

Explanation

When you feel chest pain and notice sweating at night, it might be more than just a simple cold or muscle strain. One possibility is that your heart isn’t getting enough blood because of a heart problem like coronary heart disease. Sometimes, these heart issues show up with symptoms like pain and sweating, even when you’re sleeping. Another heart-related concern is a heart attack, which needs immediate help. On the lung side, there is a condition called a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lung. This can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and sweating, even at night. Other medical conditions, including infections or hormonal changes, might also cause these symptoms. Because the chest pain and sweating combination can be a sign of something serious, it is important to talk with a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may use tools like blood tests, imaging studies, and heart monitoring to figure out the cause and help decide the best treatment for you.

(References)

  • Feher A, Muhsin SA, Maw AM. Night Sweats as a Prominent Symptom of a Patient Presenting with Pulmonary Embolism. Case Rep Pulmonol. 2015;2015:841272. doi: 10.1155/2015/841272. Epub 2015 May 11. PMID: 26078907; PMCID: PMC4442258.

  • Herber-Gast G, Brown WJ, Mishra GD. Hot flushes and night sweats are associated with coronary heart disease risk in midlife: a longitudinal study. BJOG. 2015 Oct;122(11):1560-7. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13163. Epub 2014 Nov 7. PMID: 25377022.

  • Wuyts L, Pouillon M, Huyghe M, Ruyssers N, Goovaerts G, Spaepen M. Palpitations, headache and night sweats caused by a retroperitoneal mass: case report and short review. BJR Case Rep. 2017 Aug 2;3(4):20170035. doi: 10.1259/bjrcr.20170035. PMID: 30363222; PMCID: PMC6159177.

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK416/

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

smily Shiba-inu looking

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Chest pain

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

AI Symptom Check

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes


Tips to try:

  • Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
  • Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
  • Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.