6 Bedtime Rules to Help Combat Night Sweats
6 Bedtime Rules to Help Combat Night Sweats

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6 Bedtime Rules to Help Combat Night Sweats

6 Bedtime Rules to Help Combat Night Sweats

Are you fed up of waking up drenched in sweat? Sick of throwing the covers off the bed, just to need them back on again five minutes later? Had enough of swapping bedtime cuddles with your partner for bedtime cuddles with a cool, damp towel? It is time to fight back and eliminate your night sweats.

Night sweats, the cousin of hot flashes, are the most common symptom of the menopause with over 75% of women experiencing them during the transitional period. It is the symptom that refers to excess sweating during the night which can make for a very uncomfortable and disruptive sleep. Luckily, there are different treatments that can effectively manage night sweats so that your lifestyle is not completely affected by this aspect of “the change”, because let’s face it; a bad night’s sleep will result in an unproductive and tiresome day.

6 Bedtime Tips to Help Combat your Night Sweats

There are various ways to help prevent night sweats from occurring but first and foremost it is important that you begin by making small changes to your bedtime routine. Follow these bedtime rules and you can decrease the effects of a night sweat, and even prevent them from happening in the first place:

Wear practical pajamas.

Depending on the seriousness of your night sweats you have several options here. Either sleep naked or choose a sensible choice of bed wear. Don’t wear anything too restrictive or tight. Breathable pj’s will decrease sweat levels so are a better option. Alternatively, wear loose clothes but in layers so that you can easily control your heat levels.

Turn down the temperature.

Keep your bedroom at a cool temperature. A colder sleeping environment is proven to help anybody sleep better, not just women experiencing the menopause, so always follow this rule. Get a fan, keep the air conditioning on a cool temperature or open a window before you sleep.

Have water close by.

It is important to keep your body hydrated. Drink some cold water before bedtime but always have a glass on your bedside table in case of a night sweat. Drinking water on the onset of an episode will reduce its length.

Keep a towel by your bed.

Women often find themselves drenched in so much sweat that they need to change the bed sheets before being able to fall back to sleep. Avoid this by sleeping on a towel. It will mean you have a less disruptive night. Additionally, it is advisable to keep a towel by the side of your bed so you can mop up any beads of sweat from your forehead during the night, making your sleeping experience a more comfortable one.

Use sensible bedding.

Certain fabrics may be adding to your night sweats. Choose linen or cotton bed sheets and don’t use a thick duvet. Instead have several layers of bedding so that you can peel them off one by one if you need to.

Consider a different room.

If the problem continues regularly then consider sleeping in a different room to your partner. Your own space and less body heat will help regulate your night sweats.

Recommendation for night sweats:

Night sweats can be extremely uncomfortable and lead to terrible night sleeps. The regularity and length will vary considerably, but however much you suffer, there are always ways to control their effects. Follow this link to find out more about night sweats.

Other Related Articles:
How to Identify Menopausal Night Sweats

Sources:
  • The National Institute of Health. "Signs of the Menopausal Transition." www.nih.gov.
  • Boston Women's Health Collective. "Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Sleep Disturbances." Our Bodies, Ourselves, 2006.
  • Von Muhlen, DG, et al. "A community-based study of menopause symptoms and estrogen replacement in older women." Maturitas. Sept 1995; 22(2):71-8.