40s

Night Sweats: Is it Hot in Here or is it Just Me?

By  | 

Night sweats, the nocturnal cousin of hot flashes, are uncomfortable, disrupt your sleep and will be experienced by as many as 75% of perimenopausal and menopausal women.

What are Night Sweats?

Medically termed as “sleep hyperhidrosis”, night sweats aren’t actually a sleep disorder, but a common perspiration disorder that occurs during sleep in both perimenopause and menopause. These episodes of nighttime sweating can range in severity from mild to intense, and are caused by hormonal imbalances combined with environmental factors, such as an excessively warm sleeping environment. The symptoms can drastically disturb sleep patterns, which means the next day you will be fatigued, irritable and moody. You may also experience brain fog which means you cannot focus or concentrate. The stress and exhaustion that comes from a poor night’s sleep will also contribute to a reduced libido.

Managing Night Sweats

The good news is that some of the environmental adjustments we discussed previously to assist with managing hot flashes will also improve night sweats like wearing light weight clothing, maintaining cooler room temperatures, cutting back on hot, spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine. You should also start exercising every day and making better nutritional choices. Losing some weight would improve sleep which would improve some of the symptoms that you are experiencing. Meditation, deep paced breathing, yoga and acupuncture can also be helpful. Drinking more water will also contribute to cooling down the body.

There really is nothing better than a good night’s sleep!

Tara Allmen, MD Credentials:
– Board Certified Gynecologist and Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner
– New York City’s Leading Expert In Menopause
– President, North American Menopause Society Foundation
– Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
– New York City’s Top Gynecologist, 2015
– Five Star Rating From Doctor’s Choice Awards
– Five Star Rating From HealthGrades

You must be logged in to post a comment Login