Causes and Natural Treatments of Night Sweats After Menopause

One of the symptoms of menopause that is very similar to hot flashes is night sweats. Night sweats after menopause is experienced by nearly 75% of all menopausal women. Medically, night sweats are known as sleep hyperhidrosis and are episodes of sweating during the night that can range from mild to severe.

One of the more irritating symptoms that occurs with the onset of menopause is that one wakes up in the middle of the night, sweating profusely, sheets drenched and heart pounding. It usually takes a lot of time to calm down and go back to sleep, and more often than not, sleep doesn’t come easily or peacefully, and women end up spending a fitful night.

Causes of Night Sweats after Menopause
Night sweats after menopause are a result of some very complex interactions within the body due to the fluctuating levels of estrogen. So, the major cause of night sweats is hormonal imbalance, which affects the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining the body’s temperature, and since hormonal imbalances affect the functioning of this gland, the body temperature fluctuates. In its attempt to regulate body temperature, the hypothalamus may dilate the blood vessels to heat up the body, resulting in hot flashes.

On the other hand, if the hypothalamus gets the signal that the body temperature has risen, it triggers the sweat glands and as a result causes profuse sweating, leading to night sweats.

Apart from the hormonal imbalance, night sweats after menopause are can also be caused by pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, sleep apnea or a thyroid disorder.

Treatment of Night Sweats after Menopause
Night sweats after menopause can be treated in different ways. Changes in lifestyle and alternative medicines are two treatments that help immensely. Hormone replacement therapy is recommended in severe cases, but treatment through natural means is a healthier and safer option in the long run.

• Lifestyle Changes: Exercise and yoga can help a great deal in the treatment of night sweats after menopause. Yoga has some exercises that are especially meant for dealing with night sweats, like breathing and relaxation exercises. These are especially handy after an episode when there is a need to go back to sleep. Deep breathing and relaxation help a lot. Also, dietary changes like a reduction in caffeine intake, as well as alcohol and processed foods intake, can go a long way to minimize night sweats after menopause. Smoking should be stopped if one is a smoker.
• Alternative Medicine: Alternative medicines, such as herbal remedies, are also very effective for night sweats after menopause. Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens and are available in herbs such as black cohosh and dong quai. Also, an increase in the vitamin in take is highly recommended. Soy products are also highly recommended and have been known to help menopause symptoms to a very large extent. Herbal remedies and natural remedies are safe and effective treatment options, since they don’t stress the liver for synthesis like other medications often do.

Night sweats after menopause can leave a woman feeling very disturbed and irritable, owing to the fact that sleep is directly affected. Lifestyle changes, especially exercise, can go a long way in the treatment of night sweats.