Getting hot n' sweaty in the sheets is not always a good thing.
In a recent study of 2267 patients visiting Primary Care Physicians, 41%
of the patients reported experiencing night time sweats throughout the
previous month. Unlike the occasional sweating or a flushed face, night
sweats are characterized as severe hot flashes occurring at night time
that may drench sleepwear and sheets that are not related to an
overheated environment.
The most recognized cause of night sweats (thanks to Golden Girls and numerous primetime punch lines) is menopause. This organic process that occurs in a woman's body causes a hormone imbalance leading to symptoms for instance night sweats. They occur in 70% of females approaching menopause and could possibly last for the rest of the women's life. For any females dealing with menopause-related night sweats, there are 3 suggested solutions:
· Lifestyle changes - This is the toughest solution from the group as it requires a firm commitment, but experts recommend that females try to reduce stress by practicing meditation or yoga. Also recommended can be a diet rich in estrogenic foods like soy, apples, cherries, wheat and yams. Regular exercise (including or outside of the advised yoga) will also help to abate the symptoms of menopause.
· Alternative medicine - Increasing in popularity, quite a few women are turning to acupuncture and herbal remedies. Phytoestrogen drugs including Black Cohosh and Dong Qai are ideal for replacing estrogen hormones but for hormonal imbalances, non-estrogenic herbs (for instance, Macafem or progesterone cream) are suggested. These non-estrogenic herbs optimize the functionality from the pituitary and endocrine glands to help keep the body's natural hormonal balance.
· Drugs and/or surgery - This choice involves the highest risk as well as the highest costs. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to have serious side effects. The use of synthetic hormones can increase your risks of ovarian & breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes.
But women going through menopause aren't the only ones suffering from night sweats. You'll find a lot of other causes of this sweaty phenomenon so women of all ages and even men can have them. Doctors will need to get a medical history and possibly run some tests to determine the cause of your night sweats.
Some possible causes they will be looking for:
· For men, your bodies go through an organic temperature cycle that heats up the body around bedtime but lowers significantly before waking. The drop in body temperature can make you feel hot, causing you to sweat.
· Another common cause for night sweats in both men and women is stress. If you're anxious about work, money or relationships, your body may sweat out your anxiety in response.
· Idiopathic hyperhidrosis - These big words simply mean that you have a condition that causes the body to chronically produce too much sweat without an identifiable medical cause
· Infections - TB is most commonly associated but they could also be caused by bacterial infections (endocarditis), osteomyelitis (inflammation from the bones), abscesses, or the AIDS virus.
· Cancers - Night time sweats can be an early symptom of some cancers (most commonly lymphoma). However, it will accompany other symptoms for instance unexplained weight loss and fevers.
· Medications - If you can find no signs of tumors or infections, this is the most common cause. Roughly 8% of people taking antidepressants experience night time sweats. Also, some medications with acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating. Some drugs can also induce flushing including niacin, tamoxifen, hydralazine, nitroglycerine and Viagra.
· Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar can cause sweating in some cases.
· Hormone Disorders - Not to be confused with menopause (menopause isn't an illness), some hormone disorders for instance Pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome & hyperthyroidism can cause night sweats.
· Neurologic conditions - While it's very uncommon, autonomic dysreflexia, post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke and autonomic neuropathy can cause night sweats.
No matter what the cause, you can find plenty of ways to handle these night sweats.
Consider the following solutions:
· Release stress before bedtime by meditating, journaling or practicing yoga. Anything that calms your mind and body to help you achieve calm before hitting the sheets will be useful.
· Layer your bed with covers (much like you would layer clothing) so that you can strip them as you start to sweat.
· Make your bedroom a cooler place by installing a ceiling fan.
· Make a lifestyle and diet change to avoid "triggers" that may stimulate hot flashes. These include caffeine, hot drinks, acidic foods, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, hydrogenated or saturated fats and white sugar.
· Consider herbal remedies (see above for herbal remedies associated to menopause). Motherwort can relieve the frequency and duration of hot flashes while a 2005 study at the School of Public Health at Queensland University found that in a controlled trial, sage and alfalfa reduced severe hot flashes by 60% as compared with a placebo.
· Consider replacing your bed sheets with bamboo sheets. Bamboo sheets retain the organic qualities of the bamboo plant that make them highly absorbent, odor resistant (it is anti-fungal) and thermal regulating. No matter how much you drench the sheets, they will absorb most of it, dry quickly and not leave a sweaty stench in your bedroom.
While night sweats can be a difficult and sometimes messy condition to deal with, rest assured (and sleep peacefully) knowing that there are plenty of alternative solutions to help you stay dry and comfortable.
The most recognized cause of night sweats (thanks to Golden Girls and numerous primetime punch lines) is menopause. This organic process that occurs in a woman's body causes a hormone imbalance leading to symptoms for instance night sweats. They occur in 70% of females approaching menopause and could possibly last for the rest of the women's life. For any females dealing with menopause-related night sweats, there are 3 suggested solutions:
· Lifestyle changes - This is the toughest solution from the group as it requires a firm commitment, but experts recommend that females try to reduce stress by practicing meditation or yoga. Also recommended can be a diet rich in estrogenic foods like soy, apples, cherries, wheat and yams. Regular exercise (including or outside of the advised yoga) will also help to abate the symptoms of menopause.
· Alternative medicine - Increasing in popularity, quite a few women are turning to acupuncture and herbal remedies. Phytoestrogen drugs including Black Cohosh and Dong Qai are ideal for replacing estrogen hormones but for hormonal imbalances, non-estrogenic herbs (for instance, Macafem or progesterone cream) are suggested. These non-estrogenic herbs optimize the functionality from the pituitary and endocrine glands to help keep the body's natural hormonal balance.
· Drugs and/or surgery - This choice involves the highest risk as well as the highest costs. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to have serious side effects. The use of synthetic hormones can increase your risks of ovarian & breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes.
But women going through menopause aren't the only ones suffering from night sweats. You'll find a lot of other causes of this sweaty phenomenon so women of all ages and even men can have them. Doctors will need to get a medical history and possibly run some tests to determine the cause of your night sweats.
Some possible causes they will be looking for:
· For men, your bodies go through an organic temperature cycle that heats up the body around bedtime but lowers significantly before waking. The drop in body temperature can make you feel hot, causing you to sweat.
· Another common cause for night sweats in both men and women is stress. If you're anxious about work, money or relationships, your body may sweat out your anxiety in response.
· Idiopathic hyperhidrosis - These big words simply mean that you have a condition that causes the body to chronically produce too much sweat without an identifiable medical cause
· Infections - TB is most commonly associated but they could also be caused by bacterial infections (endocarditis), osteomyelitis (inflammation from the bones), abscesses, or the AIDS virus.
· Cancers - Night time sweats can be an early symptom of some cancers (most commonly lymphoma). However, it will accompany other symptoms for instance unexplained weight loss and fevers.
· Medications - If you can find no signs of tumors or infections, this is the most common cause. Roughly 8% of people taking antidepressants experience night time sweats. Also, some medications with acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating. Some drugs can also induce flushing including niacin, tamoxifen, hydralazine, nitroglycerine and Viagra.
· Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar can cause sweating in some cases.
· Hormone Disorders - Not to be confused with menopause (menopause isn't an illness), some hormone disorders for instance Pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome & hyperthyroidism can cause night sweats.
· Neurologic conditions - While it's very uncommon, autonomic dysreflexia, post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke and autonomic neuropathy can cause night sweats.
No matter what the cause, you can find plenty of ways to handle these night sweats.
Consider the following solutions:
· Release stress before bedtime by meditating, journaling or practicing yoga. Anything that calms your mind and body to help you achieve calm before hitting the sheets will be useful.
· Layer your bed with covers (much like you would layer clothing) so that you can strip them as you start to sweat.
· Make your bedroom a cooler place by installing a ceiling fan.
· Make a lifestyle and diet change to avoid "triggers" that may stimulate hot flashes. These include caffeine, hot drinks, acidic foods, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, hydrogenated or saturated fats and white sugar.
· Consider herbal remedies (see above for herbal remedies associated to menopause). Motherwort can relieve the frequency and duration of hot flashes while a 2005 study at the School of Public Health at Queensland University found that in a controlled trial, sage and alfalfa reduced severe hot flashes by 60% as compared with a placebo.
· Consider replacing your bed sheets with bamboo sheets. Bamboo sheets retain the organic qualities of the bamboo plant that make them highly absorbent, odor resistant (it is anti-fungal) and thermal regulating. No matter how much you drench the sheets, they will absorb most of it, dry quickly and not leave a sweaty stench in your bedroom.
While night sweats can be a difficult and sometimes messy condition to deal with, rest assured (and sleep peacefully) knowing that there are plenty of alternative solutions to help you stay dry and comfortable.
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