Night Sweats, Menopause and Hot Flashes
Hot flashes or hot flushes are thought to be the result of changes in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates the body's temperature. If the hypothalamus senses that a woman is too warm, it starts a chain of events to cool her down. Blood vessels near the surface of the skin begin to dilate (enlarge), increasing blood flow to dissipate body heat. This produces a red, flushed look to the face and neck, accompanied by instant perspiration, to cool the body down.
In some women, an aura (an uneasy feeling or mild panic attack), occurs just before the hot flash. An increased pulse rate and a sensation of rapid heart beating may also occur. Hot flashes are often followed by a cold chill. Some women experience only the chill.
Hot flashes that occur at night often interfere with sleep, and are strong enough to wake a woman up. If a woman perspires heavily, the condition is called night sweats.
It's a myth that menopause makes women irritable. Sleep disturbances cause fatigue and lead to irritability.
Keep your bedroom at a cooler temperature
and well ventilated. To cool your bed, consider our heated mattress pad/cooling mattress pad for
the perfect temperature for you and your partner.
Menopause is not the only cause of hot flashes. Profuse sweating accompanied by hot flashes can also be one of the signs of an infection, thyroid disorder, diabetes, tuberculosis, leukemia, or
lyme disease. Additionally, some drug therapies, such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for cancer and raloxifene (Evista) for osteoporosis, can cause hot flashes.
Cool Wicking PJs special
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"More than two-thirds of North American women have hot flashes during perimenopause.
Women whose ovaries are removed, inducing surgical menopause, often have severe hot flashes that begin immediately after surgery and last longer than those in women reaching menopause naturally.
Menopause-related hot flashes usually follow a consistent pattern unique to each woman. Some hot flashes are easily tolerated, others are annoying or embarrassing, and still others can be debilitating. Most women experience hot flashes for 3 to 5 years before they taper off.
Although some women never have a hot flash or have them only for a few months, others may have them for many years, even into their 70s or beyond. There is no way of predicting when they will start-or stop.
Hot flashes often increase with stress and may be associated with palpitations (rapid heartbeat) and feelings of anxiety. The unsettling feeling that precedes a hot flash can mimic a panic attack in some women."
(Quoted from the Menopause Guidebook by The North American Menopause Society)
Some causes of night sweats are relatively harmless, while others are a sign of a serious underlying disease.
A night sweat caused by a medical condition or infection can be described as 'severe hot flashes' occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.
Use Cool Wicking PJs
wicking bedding sheet sets that stay cool, absorbing moisture and
releasing it into the air, keeping you cool and dry through the night.
Common Causes for Night Sweats
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
- Common cold
- Flu
- Heart disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Sleep apnea
- Dreaming
- Thyroid disorders
- Infections
- Fever
- Cancer
- Long term illnesses
- Excess body fat
- Anxiety
- Chemotherapy
