Cold sweats are a type of sweating that occurs when you feel a chill in your body while sweating abnormally, regardless of how hot or cold it is in your environment. Unlike normal sweating, cold sweats aren’t a result of heavy exercise or high temperatures. They’re also different from night sweats, which happen only while you’re sleeping. Cold sweats are a sign of sudden, significant stress, which could be physical or psychological in origin, or a combination of the two. The activation of the fight or flight (stress) response usually triggers cold sweats.

The best treatment for cold sweats is to address the root problem. Anxiety and stress are the most common prompts for the fight or flight response and the resulting cold sweats. Other situations and conditions that prompt cold sweats may include pain and shock, heart attack, fever, low blood sugar, medication, and serious underlying health issues such as HIV or cancer.

If you’re experiencing regular cold sweats, there are certain health conditions your body may be trying to make you aware of. So, you might want to talk to your doctor. If you are throwing up, confused, lethargic, or if your symptoms get worse or last for longer than an hour, you should seek medical help right away.