Reasons for Night Sweats

What are the reasons for night sweats?

reason-for-night-sweats The reasons for night sweats are numerous and varied. Night sweats, or waking up to soaked sheets and nightclothes, are often the bane of menopausal women simply for their highly inconvenient and unpredictable nature. Night sweats can often make women feel frustrated and powerless to do anything about the effects of menopause, but understanding why it happens is a big step toward mitigating its unpleasantness.

Night sweats can be caused by conditions other than menopause, but they are an extraordinarily common symptom, affecting over 80% of all menopausal women (and some premenopausal).

Menopause by its very definition is an ongoing hormonal imbalance as the female body transitions to its non-reproductive phase. The hormones affected by the onset of menopause – estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – fluctuate wildly during menopause. These fluctuations are responsible for virtually all of the effects of menopause.

So, just what about menopause is the reason for night sweats? Understanding this can serve to stop or dramatically reduce night sweats.

During menopause, fluctuating estrogen levels give the false impression of an abnormally high body temperature, prompting the hypothalamus gland – the part of the body that is responsible for regulating body temperature – to raise a false alarm. The body responds as if it needs to disperse a dangerously high amount of heat, thus the immense amount of sweat produced in a small amount of time. In effect, the reason for night sweats in menopause is because of the body’s false alarm.

What else can trigger night sweats?

Although menopause can make women feel as if all control over the body’s changes has been totally commandeered by an unknown entity, there are many lifestyle modifications that can serve to significantly reduce the effects of menopause, particularly night sweats.

Diet: Many women are surprised to learn that simple, everyday dietary choices can be major reasons for night sweats. For example, while fruits are typically thought to be a healthy choice at any age, the acidity in many fruits can contribute to frequent night sweats. Similarly, the spiciness of certain foods, such as cayenne, ginger, and pepper, can seriously irritate the condition. It’s best to avoid spicy food altogether. Alcoholic beverages should be avoided, as should all sweets, as the ingredients in both are thought to be additional reasons for night sweats.

Activity Level: An unhealthy lifestyle can be a big reason for night sweats. For instance, a diet high in hydrogenated or saturated fats (e.g., meat and margarine) has been shown to be a common reason for night sweats. So has a lack of sleep (try to get 7-8 hours per night). And exercise, while important and necessary for maintaining overall health, can be a contributing factor to night sweats if it is too intense (some doctors even advise against sexual intercourse); however, a totally sedentary lifestyle can have the same effect. Women should aim for moderate exercise (such as walking or bicycling) three to five times per week.

Emotional Health: Finally, a stressful lifestyle can be seriously detrimental to overall health as well as a reason for night sweats. Menopause can be a difficult time physically and emotionally, but its effects are significantly exacerbated by high levels of stress and especially anger. It’s a good idea to practice whatever relaxation techniques seem personally effective to keep stress (and thus, body temperature) down.

Conclusion: Controlling Night Sweats Requires Discipline

There are many reasons for night sweats, but the good news is that there are so many proven ways to reduce night sweats over which women have control. Making diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes is never easy, but the effects – which may very well include fewer or less intense night sweats – are worth it. Click the following link to read about the reasons for night sweats.