Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Sounds like a movie title, right? Sort of like Saturday Night Fever, but for an older crowd.

But today's blog is not about John Travolta. It's much more serious. For those of us suffering from these sudden fluctuations in temperature, it is no joke!

Basically, hot flashes happen during the day and night sweats are the same thing, but happen in the middle of the night, while we are trying to sleep. Due to a change in hormonal levels, hot flashes can be a mere annoyance, or can be accompanied by sudden nausea, profuse sweating, even dizziness. While these are no fun, night sweats are even more disturbing because they disrupt sleep. And as we all know, lack of sleep is a serious problem.

Losing a little sleep once in a while doesn't usually lead to huge problems, but when night sweats interrupt sleep consistently, we can begin to suffer complications. Lack of sleep can lead to a compromised immune system, illness, impaired driving, irritability, depression, brain fog, sugar cravings, weight gain, and many other ugly symptoms. As we age, many of us suffer from insomnia, even without the dreaded night sweats. This menopausal problem can exacerbate an ongoing condition and make it even more difficult to resolve.

There are a number of menopausal supplements available over the counter that do not contain hormones. (Because of the adverse effects of hormonal replacement therapy, many GYNs no longer recommend taking them.) The active ingredients in these herbal supplements usually include one or more of the following: Vitex (chasteberry), black cohosh root, red clover, soy, dong guai, ginseng, maca, sage, hesperidin, and Vitamin C.

Before selecting an herbal supplement, make sure it doesn't contain anything you might be allergic to and that it won't interfere with any prescription medications you are already taking. Although we think of herbs as being completely safe, this is not always the case. Over-consumption of anything can lead to problems, and herbs are no different. I chose a menopausal supplement that does not contain soy as I try to avoid soy products in general. One in five people is allergic to soy. Soy also binds with iodine to decrease its absorption, and this has a detrimental effect on the thyroid. Women in perimenopause already struggle with low thyroid hormones, so adding soy to the equation may augment this issue.

In addition to selecting an herbal supplement, other options for dealing with hot flashes and night sweats include avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, hot baths and vigorous exercise close to bedtime. (Both exercise and hot baths are fine earlier in the day!) Wear light, cotton clothing to bed. Keep the room temperature as low as possible. Use a ceiling fan as well, if needed! Magnesium, melatonin, theonine, kava kava, valerian, and ashwaghanda can all help with insomnia due to tension, anxiety, and/or stress. (Check with your doctor before adding any new supplements, herbs, or over the counter medications to your protocol.)

I have ordered my new menopause supplement and will report back after I've been taking it long enough to notice any effects! Please leave a comment if you have found a supplement or a solution that has been working for you.