Night sweats are one of the most uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Night sweats is the term for hot flashes that occur when the woman is asleep, and is frequently one of the main causes of lack of sleep in women currently undergoing menopause.
Night sweats are the result of a hormonal imbalance that tricks the brain into thinking that the body needs to release heat. This leads to the dilation of the blood vessels, an increase in the heart rate and the dilation of the sweat glands for the passage of sweat.
Relief for Night Sweats
The main form of relief for night sweats is hormone replacement therapy which provides the body with synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone. However, hormone replacement therapy comes with its own set of risks, which include an increased predisposition to hypertension, strokes, and thrombo-embolic disorders. Natural replacements for synthetic hormones include supplementation with herbs such as black cohosh and soy - just two of the many natural supplements found to have a favorable effect against hot flashes and night sweats. Vitamin supplement containing the essential elements of calcium magnesium and essential fatty acids have been found to be helpful in reducing the signs of menopause.
Another option is to keep cool when experiencing night sweats by tuning up the air conditioner, using a fan or wearing clothes made of wicking fabric. There are specially-designed clothing made especially for women to help them deal with hot flashes and night sweats.
