Sunday, January 24, 2010

Menopause and Night Sweats

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 14:11
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Please do not take night sweats lying down. Everyone loves getting their eight plus hours every night and any interruption can be a nuisance. I know that for a woman night sweats can be the single most uncomfortable menopausal symptom. I personally do not like being hot at all so waking up sweaty and sticking to the sheets is definitely not my forte. Most women assume that in order for it to be considered a night sweat you have to wake up soaked in your sweat but this is simply not the case. In this article we will be discussing what a night sweat is and the how and why of its occurrence. I can assure you there is help for your night sweats and if you continue reading, you will see that with a few simple steps you can help your body go back to its normal self.

I notice as women get older, we tend to enjoy unusually warm temperatures in our home. Have you ever had your children or grandchildren stay overnight at your home and complain about how warm it is? Well, I have and I can assure you it was not too hot for me. I say this because sometimes women who keep their homes warm cannot distinguish the difference between a night sweat and waking up in the middle of the night because it was just too hot in the home to begin with.

The only true way a doctor can be certain that a woman is experiencing night sweats is to conduct tests and obtain their full medical history.

Fluctuating estrogen levels is the cause of night sweats. The area of the brain that regulates our body temperature is called the hypothalamus. Due to the fluctuating estrogen levels, the hypothalamus becomes confused and responds to this change. Since the hypothalamus acts much like a thermostat, ir tries to cool your body down by dilating blood vessels in order to give off heat causing a hot flash simultaneously triggering the seat glands which turns into a night sweat. At this point you will experience drenched clothes, sticky sheets, an adrenaline rush and anxiety that may take a while to relieve; all of these are common symptoms of a night sweat.

There are a number of things that you can do to provide some relief for your night sweats. It does not hurt to try them and remember the only way to determine a method that works best for you is to try. Every woman’s body is different so you may have to endure a little discomfort until you find a strategy that fits your needs. It is important to breathe deeply. Breathing deeply is a relaxation technique used to reduce nights sweats as well as hot flashes. Keeping an eye on your night sweat episodes by keeping a record or looking for a pattern can help you identify triggers that may have contributed to your episode. You can also try hormone replacement therapy, exercise regularly and take better care of yourself.

The real treatment begins with you. The first step towards better living is a better attitude. You cannot take night sweats lying down although that is when you are more prone to have an episode. I am not promising that your night sweats will cease altogether but following a healthy daily regimen which includes a healthy diet and exercise will reduce your night sweats and keep the flashes to a minimum. Be cool.

Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!

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