We all like to get some sleep, but how many of us would like to wake up in the middle of the night drowning in our own sweat? That’ll be a scary experience, but it shouldn’t be because it can be avoided, most of the time.

Most night sweats are caused by the type of fabric your sheets and pajamas are made out of. Sometimes they just happen because you sleep in a hot room. Sweaty nights can also serve as a signal that you have a serious health issue according to Neomi Shah who’s a doctor and an associate professor.

1. You sleep in a room that’s too hot

Is there a perfect temperature for my room? Yes, there is, anything higher than 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is too hot according to the sleep specialist W.C Winter, M.D. Another thing that could make you hot and sweaty while you sleep is that you sleep in thick fabrics like flannel.

Cotton is the perfect substitute for flannel, and you easily get cotton pajamas and sheets. Being too hot can also impede your ability to fall asleep.

2. You just sweat a lot

In this case, we aren’t talking about normal sweating. We are talking about an excessive sweating disorder called hyperhidrosis. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that this disorder makes a person sweat unnecessarily, even when they’re asleep.

The AAD says that hyperhidrosis is different from normal sweating in that it targets specific parts of your body with more of a focus on your feet, head, palms, and underarms. The AAD also said that hyperhidrosis could make simple activities like using your phone an uphill struggle.

3.  A ghost could be chasing you

We aren’t talking about an actual ghost, but if you’re having a nightmare, you’re most likely to wake up drenched in sweat. Harry Banshick, a doctor, says that you end up sweating because you physically acted out what happened in that nightmare.

Shah agrees with this and says that anything that triggers a sympathetic surge (flight-fight response) can make you sweat. If you’ve been suffering from nightmares, you’re most likely suffering from stress and seeing your doctor would be very prudent.

4. You may be experiencing hormonal changes

Fluctuating estrogen levels are usually the culprit when it comes to night sweats experienced by women. According to Nandi, hot flushes and menopause have usually emerged hand in hand in her patients, and that made them sweat at night.

Shah also said that hormone fluctuations in pregnant women or those on their period could lead to sweat-drenched nights. However, night sweats seem more persistent amongst women going through menopause.

5. Antidepressants

According to Shah, people on antidepressants are the most likely to get victimized by night sweats. Shah says this type of medication is capable of triggering an adrenergic reaction, that means it’s got something to do with your adrenaline levels, and that also means you’re going to sweat.

Night sweats will be more frequent if you take venlafaxine or bupropion, but doctors could prescribe medication that can slow down your adrenergic output.

While it’s touted as a smart way to prevent cavities and keep the teeth clean, dental floss is coming under fire in a new survey for having links to a series of serious illnesses, including testicular cancer and thyroid disease.

Our Love for Dental Floss and Eating Out

For lovers of flossing and take-out, there’s no better substitute for either. Flossing keeps mouth breath clean and teeth shiny, and take-out – well, take-out makes life so much better. They’re both such deeply embedded parts of culture and society that it would be hard to weed them out.

But there’s bad news in the air. A new recent study suggests that dental floss and take-out might be super dangerous, thanks to the chemicals present in floss and take-out packaging. If you still think there’s nothing to worry about, read the next section.

How Dangerous Could They Be?

The study, which gets published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, found that some dental floss products were leading to high levels of PFAS in the blood.

PFAS is a compound also known as polyfluoroalkyl that is commonly found in grease-proof and waterproof products, such as dental floss and fast food packaging.

The study found that users of both the former and the latter had high concentrations of the compound in their blood and that there was a correlation to some of today’s worst illnesses, including kidney disease, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol.

In an even worse twist, the study found that users of some popular dental floss brands and products, including Glide, had higher amounts of a PFAS compound called PFHxS in their bloodstreams.

The study also discovered that human behaviors were mostly responsible for the results in some of the participants. Activities such as consuming takeout from cardboard-coated packaging were found to directly correlate with higher amounts of four different types of PFAS in participants’ blood.

The Facts of the Study

The study was carried out between 2010 and 2013 by researchers from the Silent Spring Institute and Public Health Institute using a sample population of 178 women that had previously been part of a study sample for the Public Health Institute between 1959 and 1967.

The study aimed to look for 11 different types of PFAS, and examined a series of activities including dental flossing and fast food consumption, later concluding between 2015 and 2016.

What’s The Solution?

Luckily, there’s a solution. According to the study’s lead author, Katie Boronow, “The good news is that based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don’t contain PFAS.”

In other words, you can always choose dental floss that doesn’t contain the compound PFAS, even though that might mean leaving your favorite brand, such as Glide, which was found by the study to have the compound in some of its flosses.

Here’s to hoping that dental floss makers can react to this study and start limiting the presence of this compound in their products. In the meantime, stay safe.

Most health experts advise people to eat more veggies and fruits due to the health benefits they come with. Fruits and vegetables contain vital nutrients and vitamins to help in preventing some diseases.

Plant-based foods also have fewer calories and can allow you to easily manage your weight. With these benefits, you’d expect more people to keep taking fruits and vegetables, but that isn’t the case.

The fear of pesticide residue on these plant-based foods is preventing many people from taking fruits and veggies, a recent survey reveals.

Nobody would want to consume chemicals that would either damage their brain or affect their fertility. The low consumption of fruits and veggies is also partly to campaigns that market organic produce as having lower pesticide residue.

Many people can’t afford to purchase organic produce since they’re quite expensive. The result is that people will eat less of plant-based produce.

The Facts About Pesticides

In the U.S, pesticide residue isn’t a safety concern in the food supply industry. Both organic and non-organic farmers both rely either on natural and synthetic pesticides to control diseases and pests on their crops.

To ensure safety, pesticides and their use on crops are regulated. The FDA recommends that one should wash their fruit and veggies before consuming to remove any bacteria, dirt, and pesticide residue if any.

Therefore, the fear of pesticides shouldn’t deter you from eating fruits and vegetables. The amount of potential pesticide residue found on organic and non-organic produced crops is in small amounts.

As some experts say, the small amounts haven’t yet been linked to any serious health effect. You should be more concerned about the bacteria and viruses on produce instead of pesticides.

There are natural-based pesticides used in organic farming that ensure healthier produce. While the organic produce may be healthier, there are no studies that confirm you entirely avoid pesticides by eating organic produce.

Reducing Pesticide Intake

If you’re too concerned about the levels of pesticide residue in your fruits and veggies, you can take measures to reduce the amount of pesticide intake.

You can achieve this by washing your produce before eating. Water mixed with baking soda or white vinegar can also be used to effectively clean your produce.

Integrating local and organic produce in your food is also vital in reducing pesticide intake. Select thick-skinned fruits such as avocados and bananas if you’re going to eat non-organic foods.

Moreover, you can choose to control the food supply at your home by having a kitchen garden where you can grow your fruits and veggies. Select a few easy-to-grow veggies to spice up your meal.

Health Benefits of Fruits and Veggies

There’s no doubt about the health benefits that come with including fruits and vegetables in your diet. Your age, gender, and overall health will determine the amount of plant-based produce you can consume.

Therefore, consumers must be less concerned about the effects of the low levels of pesticide residue on their produce. They should instead consider taking a wide range of fruits and veggies.