sweating/night sweats

When it comes to sweating/night sweats you need to find a solution which provides the most effective relief for you. The symptoms of night sweats/sweating are different for each woman, some experiencing very severe sweating others not so severe. What might work for one woman may not work for another and it may only work for a few weeks. It may take a while to find a long term solution therefore perseverance is the key.

To be able to determine the best form of treatment, it would be a good idea to keep a track/log of the circumstances around which the sweating/night sweats occur ie noting the time, current emotional state, food and drink consumed, clothing worn, sleeping conditions, etc.  This information can help you determine what is triggering your sweating/night sweats, which may help you decide what treatment regime to follow.

However there are a number of things you might like to consider to help manage your sweating/night sweats:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - if you find that you are experiencing significant sweating/night sweats, making you feel extremely  uncomfortable throughout both day and night then this might be a good treatment for you.  If you feel that HRT is the way forward then it is advisable to consult closely with your doctor.

Lifestyle changes – this is the best treatment available for helping to reduce sweating/night sweats. Although these changes are usually inexpensive and almost free from any risks, they require a great deal of self-discipline.

Here are some adjustments you might like to consider making:

Lower the heat temperature of the room - if possible leave a window slightly open especially at night. Avoid stressful situations. Dress the bed with more layers of blankets and sheets, so that you can peel them back when you need to, to reduce your heat levels. You should change your bedding regularly – this is for hygienic and sanitary purposes. Sleep in light-weight clothing or without any clothing.

• Wear natural breathable fibres such as cotton fabrics and avoid nylon or polyester.
• Avoid constrictive clothing.
• Reduce your quantity of hot drinks especially at night time.
• Keep a cool towel handy and at night keep a bowl of tepid water/sponge next to your bed – never use cold water as it can cause you to overheat. Allow the water to evaporate off your skin.
• Eat a balanced diet and avoid spicy/hot, sugary and salty foods.
• Reduce your intake of chocolate, alcohol, tea, fizzy drinks and coffee.
• Practice slow rhythmic breathing – relaxation breathing may help to fall back to sleep after waking.
• Increase your vitamin E and B intake.
• Increase soya protein intake such as soya sauce, tofu.
• Take regular exercise ie walking.
• Consider meditation ie yoga.
• Keep your weight under control.

Making lifestyle changes can be difficult at times – it may be easier to remove certain foods from your diet and less easy to avoid stress. Making some of these changes will undoubtedly increase your overall health.

Whilst these changes will help reduce many symptoms they do not address the cause. However there are a range of alternative treatments available which can help treat the hormonal imbalance.

Here are some you may wish to consider:

• Herbal remedies (phytoestrogenic and non-oestrogenic) – will treat the hormonal imbalance directly.
• Acupuncture.
• Biofeedback.
• Massage.
• Homeopathy.
• Hypnosis.

Most medical practitioners would recommend women to combine lifestyle changes with alternative treatments to help relieve sweating/night sweats. If you consider your symptoms are at a severe level it would be beneficial to talk to a healthcare professional or your doctor for guidance and let them know what your symptoms are.

Information written by the talkhealth medical panel

Last Reviewed: 14 February 2011
Next Review Date: 14 February 2013