What are night sweats?
Night sweats refer to excessive sweating at night — think waking up dripping in sweat, with wet sheets, even though the room is a normal temperature. If this happens during the day it’s called a hot flash.
Why do night sweats happen?
Night sweats are one of the most commonly reported symptoms of the menopause. But they can also happen to anyone of any age.
The most common reasons for night sweats are:
- Menopause
- Excessive amounts of alcohol or drug use
- Anxiety
- Some medicines — for example, antidepressants, hormone treatments, and diabetes medication
Why do night sweats happen as the menopause approaches?
Hot flashes and night sweats occur before, during, and after the menopause — due to changes in the levels of hormone levels, like oestrogen and progesterone, circulating in your blood.
How to manage night sweats at night to allow you have a better night sleep?
Night sweats can be quite uncomfortable and disrupt your sleep but there are a number of things you can do to try to prevent them.
Reduce :
- smoking
- excess alcohol
- spicy food
- excess caffeine
Introduce :
- a fan beside the bed
- temperature regulating bed linen www.kbamboo.ie
- keeping your bedroom cool
- taking a cool shower before bed
- maintaining a healthy weight — being overweight or obese increases your risk of hot flashes and night sweats
- exercising regularly (not too soon before bedtime)
- relaxing and reducing your stress levels