Coping with Menopause: Night Sweats
Imagine that you are deep in dreamland one night, until all of a sudden you wake up feeling clammy, cold and wet. Very wet - all the way down to your sheets and blankets. You get up to change yourself and your bedding, but by the time you settle back into a now dry bed, you are wide awake. Does this scenario sound exhausting? For many women dealing with menopause night sweats, it is uncomfortable, disruptive and terribly exhausting. The sleep interruptions can leave you feeling tired and irritable in the morning, and the lack of quality rest can exacerbate other menopause symptoms like mood swings and depression. If you are dealing with menopause night sweats as a part of your change of life, there are some steps that you can take to make the episodes a bit fewer and farther between.
Are they Menopause Night Sweats?
The first step is to determine whether your night sweats are actually the result of menopause or if the cause is another underlying medical condition. Some medications can have night sweats as a side effect, like many antidepressants and heart medications. Some medical conditions can also have night sweats as a symptom, like viral illnesses that include a fever, infections and some types of cancer. If you are experiencing night sweats without other menopause symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor, especially if you have other symptoms like loss of weight and fever. If your doctor determines that you are indeed suffering from menopause night sweats, you can consider your treatment options.
Treatment of Menopause Night Sweats
Some women will find that a few lifestyle changes are enough to keep pesky menopause night sweats at bay. These might include daily exercise that will help with the hormonal changes that cause this symptom. You can dress in loose-fitting cotton clothing at night, and keep a bottle of water and a fan by your bed to help you cool off when one of these episodes begins. Herbs like black cohosh and supplements like vitamin E have been helpful to some women in coping with this symptom. You may also consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a means of controlling menopause night sweats and other uncomfortable symptoms. Some antidepressants can help to curb night sweats as well as some forms of blood pressure and seizure medications.
Menopause night sweats can be a troublesome symptom for many women going through the change, but there are options that will help to reduce the frequency and duration of these episodes. It can also help to remember that menopause night sweats are generally a temporary problem that will diminish as menopause runs its course. Grin and bear it and it will be over in time.
