Can night sweats be caused by anxiety and stress?
Night sweats are hot flashes that occur while a woman is sleeping. They can be uncomfortable and frustrating on their own when their primary instigator is changing hormone levels, but when spurred by anxiety and stress they can become downright frightening.
About night sweats and anxiety & stress
Night sweats are a relatively common symptom of menopause, it’s estimated that as many as 70% of women experience them at some point in their lives. Normally, night sweats manifest as occasional, brief flashes of heat that can leave a sleeping woman sweaty, with damp bed sheets and a clammy body.
For most women, these night sweats are easily linked to hormonal changes during menopause and nothing more. But for some women, night sweats can be brought about by deep anxiety or stress. When this is the case, women may feel especially vulnerable and confused but fortunately, with a little information, women can take control of their night sweats caused by anxiety and stress.
Who is at risk?
While night sweats themselves are widely associated with menopause and a few other medical conditions, anybody can experience night sweats due to anxiety or stress. These kinds of night sweats, however, are most common in women during the first year after her menstrual cycle ends completely.
Sources of anxiety and stress
Anxiety and stress are the overarching triggers of these types of night sweats, but these triggers may grow from a number of different places from within a woman’s body and from her daily life. These causes include:
Hormones & Worry
It sometimes seems that menopause is one large vicious cycle of hormonal imbalance causing problems that lead to more hormonal imbalance. Women who experience stress and anxiety induced night sweats may do so because they are concerned about their general health. This worry can cause hormones to spike and recede quickly, inciting the hypothalamus region of the brain –responsible for temperature regulation –to respond by warming the body.
Sometimes a woman’s anxiety and stress might be rooted in something deeper than worry. Women who feel that they may be experiencing an inordinate amount of stress or anxiety should seek medical attention to determine potential causes and treatment.
More Information: night sweats, anxiety, and stress
Women who are experiencing night sweats due to anxiety and stress have a number of options for potential treatment. These treatment options can be divided into the following three categories:
• Lifestyle changes.
• Alternative medicines.
• Prescription drugs.
Women can explore these links and discuss their options with a trusted doctor. With the right combination of treatment, anxiety and stress will not be able to stand in the way of a fulfilling life.
Other Related Articles:
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What causes heavy night sweats?
Understanding Night Sweats Causes
The causes of Night Sweats
