From Woman's World · Marcy Lovitch, Cailey Griffin · · 1m 20s
Waking Up Drenched in Sweat? 9 Cooling Tricks for Night Sweats
Night sweats during menopause? Try these 9 cooling tricks to sleep through the night.
In brief
Night sweats during menopause? Try these 9 cooling tricks to sleep through the night. Women experiencing night sweats during menopause can use cooling bedding, lightweight pajamas, and home remedies like edamame to reduce hot flashes. Originally reported by Woman's World.
Night Sweats During Menopause
Night sweats are common during menopause and can last up to seven years.
“Up to 80 percent of menopausal women experience them, Dr. Streicher explains.”
Why Night Sweats Happen
Lower estrogen levels confuse the brain’s internal thermostat, causing hot flashes at night.
“Essentially, your body’s thermostat is broken, and it thinks it has to heat up when it doesn’t.”
Other Triggers
Low blood sugar, infections, and candida overgrowth can also cause night sweats.
“Low blood sugar can wake you in the middle of the night in a sweat, especially if you tend to get "hangry" during the day.”
Quick Cooling Tricks
Turn on a fan, sip cold water, or use a cold compress for immediate relief.
“Cold water can lower body temperature slightly, which can help if you’re experiencing a hot flash in the moment.”
Breathable Bedding
Use sheets made of breathable materials like cotton or bamboo to help shed heat.
“Sheets made of breathable materials like cotton or bamboo help your body shed heat instead of trapping it.”
Cooling Pajamas
Swap thicker knit pajamas for lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics to stay cool.
“Trading thicker knit PJs for lightweight, cooling ones can be a game-changer when it comes to helping you avoid those 3 a.m. wakeups drenched in sweats.”
Edamame Snack
Eat a handful of roasted edamame to reduce hot flashes by 79 percent.
“Postmenopausal women who ate ½ cup of cooked soybeans daily experienced a 79 percent decrease in hot flashes over 12 weeks.”
S-Equol Supplement
S-equol supplements may help milder hot flashes but not moderate to severe ones.
“S-equol contains the metabolite, or breakdown product, of soy which is believed to be responsible for alleviating hot flashes.”
Acupuncture
Weekly acupuncture for six weeks can reduce hot flashes by up to 67 percent.
“Women who received acupuncture once a week for six weeks saw significant drops in both daytime and nighttime hot flashes.”
Paced Breathing
Paced diaphragmatic breathing reduces hot flash frequency by over 50 percent.
“Postmenopausal women who did paced diaphragmatic breathing for 15 minutes twice daily saw more than a 50 percent decrease in hot flash frequency.”
The key point
Women experiencing night sweats during menopause can use cooling bedding, lightweight pajamas, and home remedies like edamame to reduce hot flashes.
