A Practical Approach to Menopause Night Sweats

Menopause night sweats and day time hot flashes are among the most common and perhaps the most aggravating symptoms women experience. More than 2/3 of women report experiencing some degree of night sweats and hot flashes prior to, during and post-menopause. They can be mild, moderate or severe in intensity and duration, causing mild sensations of warmth to profuse sweating and everything in between!

What Happens During Menopause Night Sweats?

Night sweats occur in response to the decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels that comes with diminishing ovarian functionality. Diminishing levels of these hormones affect the hypothalamus, which reacts to perceived changes in body temperature with sporadic attempts at regulation. Blood vessels continually expand and contract as the hypothalamus reacts to perceived heat and cold.
During a hot flash, blood flow increases throughout the skin and body, and heat in felt in the face and neck and may spread downward. A red flush and perspiration often accompanies the warm or hot sensation, and may last anywhere from less than a minute to several minutes or occasionally, longer. Menopause night sweats typically involve chills, too as body temperature drops rapidly in response to the , flush of heat. Clothing wet with perspiration may amplify the chilling effect.

Symptoms of The Symptom?

In addition to the sudden feeling of heat, red flushing and perspiration that characterizes hot flashes and night sweats, many women experience other symptoms just prior to or immediately following the experience. The following are commonly reported:

• Weakness


• Dizziness


• Headaches


• Heart palpitations

Should I Seek Treatment?

It is a good idea to consult with your doctor about night sweats and hot flashes. Even if you know you are in perimenopause or menopause, it is wise to have other medical conditions ruled out as possible causes. In addition, you may wish to discuss treatment options should night sweats and hot flashes become intolerable or begin to interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

There are many treatment options available to help alleviate night sweats and hot flashes. Natural remedies such as exercise, special diet considerations, and vitamin supplementation are often the only treatment that’s needed. In other cases, herbal supplements or HRT may be recommended by your doctor. In all cases, any treatments you are pursuing should be thoroughly discussed with a medical professional and undertaken in close consideration of your unique medical history and current health status.