Night sweats are one of the most common symptoms of menopause, and they are related to hot flashes. In fact, they are the nighttime manifestation of hot flashes you may experience during the day if you are affected. We talk about the two separately because night sweats happen when you are in no position to evade them. They cause trouble with sleeping and, as a result, affect the following day as well.

What are night sweats like?
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your bedclothes drenched in sweat after having a nightmare? Night sweats are the same but without nightmares. They are embarrassing and annoying, and they disturb your sleep and that of your partner. Just like hot flashes, women experience night sweats in different ways. Some experience them severely, while others may not appear to be bothered by night sweats at all.

According to a recent study, “Hot flushes and night sweats are commonly experienced by mid-aged women during the menopause transition. They affect approximately 70% of women but are regarded as problematic for 15-20% largely due to physical discomfort, distress, social embarrassment, and sleep disturbance.“

Causes of night sweats
The part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, the hypothalamus, is greatly affected by the falling estrogen levels in the blood during menopause. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, it is believed that the drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus, making it think that the body is overheating. This triggers the responses the body normally uses to keep cool: the skin reddens (that is the hot flash) and the sweat glands are activated.

When can you expect night sweats?
Hot flashes and night sweats are extremely unpredictable; the number of night sweats suffered in a week varies greatly. For some women night sweats are their main or only menopausal symptom, and for others it might just be yet another one. There is no particular time during the night at which night sweats occur. However, they are more likely to happen in a bedroom that is too warm.

What can you do?
Even if the cause of night sweats is menopause, there are things you can do that immediately decrease the chances of their occurrence. It is obvious that night sweats are made worse in a warm bedroom, so it may help if you turn down the heating for the night or sleep with the window open. Avoid hot drinks, caffeine, red wine, spicy food, and chocolate before bedtime, and drink plenty of water. Choose well-ventilated bedding and sleepwear made from natural materials, such as cotton or linen. Although these do not reduce sweating, they can make you feel more comfortable and are less likely to cause skin irritation.

Since night sweats are caused by menopausal hormone level drops, it might be a good idea to consult your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. This supplements natural hormones and helps you sleep through the night.

References:
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20955869/