DEAR DR. DONOHUE: This year I retired, at age 66. Since retirement I’ve been tormented with drenching sweats nightly. I mention the retirement because it’s the only thing in my life that has changed. Could there be a connection? I have to change my pajamas every night, and sometimes the bed linens. Now that summer is here, I imagine things will get worse. I feel well otherwise. I will appreciate anything you can tell me. — D.D.

ANSWER: You and your doctor have to look for the rare but serious causes of night sweats. In the past, infections were the major cause, and tuberculosis headed the list of infectious causes. That’s no longer true. Diabetes, an overactive thyroid gland and cancers — especially lymphomas (lymph node cancers) — are other possible causes. It’s most unusual for night sweats to be the only sign of such illnesses. I can’t link your retirement to the problem.

Have you taken your temperature at night? A normal temperature points to causes that are less indicative of something that has health consequences.

Medicines might provoke sweating. Antidepressants, some of the diabetes medicines and thyroid hormone are examples. Aspirin resets the body’s thermostat. When its effect begins to wear off, profuse sweating can result.

The following tips for controlling sweating are banalities, but they’re always mentioned. The heat and humidity of the bedroom have to be on the low side. Humidity of less than 40 percent is optimum.

If sweating is confined to a particular body area, like the palms and soles, the face or the underarms, you have more treatment options. For generalized sweating, the choices are not as plentiful. Fans and air conditioners are another banal solution, but they often work. Some have found that Robinul (glycopyrrolate) or ProBanthine, each taken 45 minutes before going to bed, stop the production of excessive sweats.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: While trying to get out of the bathtub, I slipped and hit my chest against the side of the tub. My husband took me to the emergency room. X-rays showed two broken ribs.

The ER doctor seemed to think this was nothing, but it was truly painful. He gave me a prescription for pain medicine, and that was it. Should some kind of splint be applied? How long does it take rib fractures to heal? — M.K.

ANSWER: An uncomplicated rib fracture — one in which the ends of the fracture are in alignment — can be treated with pain relievers alone. Admittedly, even the small movement of breathing in and out worsens the pain, but your medicine ought to take care of that.

Sometimes rib belts are put on patients to keep the fracture ends from moving. Whether they do much good is disputed, and they can be uncomfortable.

You can expect your ribs to heal in six weeks.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’m a 34-year-old male and am going bald. What is your opinion on hair transplants? Do they last? How successful are they? — L.K.

ANSWER: Male hair loss occurs because male hormones shrivel hair follicles, the home for each hair. The hair thins, is shorter and falls out well before its time. Sensitivity to this male hormone action is genetically programmed, and in some men, it takes place at young ages.

Have you considered using minoxidil, which is applied to the scalp, or finasteride, an oral medicine?

Hair transplantation works well. The hair is taken from the back of the head, where hair follicles have a long life. It’s very successful.

It would be wise to check with a doctor to see if your hair loss really is something you inherited, or if it’s a sign of something else.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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