Night Sweats in Women

Night sweats are the episodes of nighttime sweating, that can range from mild to profuse. Night sweats are medically termed as "sleep hyperhidrosis". They are much similar to the hot flashes that can affect women during their menopause. Night sweats in women are sometimes so intense that they can even interrupt sleep. This excessive sweating problem affecting women's health, might lead to disturbance in many aspects of her daily life. Sudden and intense temperature, irregular heartbeat and headaches are some symptoms of night sweats in women.

What Causes Night Sweats in Women
There are many reasons for night sweats in women. Hormonal imbalance is the most probable cause. The three most critical phases in a woman's life when hormonal imbalances are most likely are:

1. during the phase of pre-menstrual syndrome
2. during pregnancy
3. during menopause

Pre-menstrual syndrome is one of the causes of nigh sweats in women. Though not every woman experiences the symptoms of PMS, however, it is very common. This hormonal imbalance creates all kinds of painful and irritating symptoms. Pregnancy is another cause of night sweats in women. This happens due to the fact that during pregnancy, the hypothalamus in the brain starts generation extra amount of heat. This results in sweating at night as the body is designed to maintain a healthy temperature at all times. Hormonal imbalances cause the hypothalamus to operate differently. Of all the causes of night sweats, however, menopause is the most probable. A woman's body spends years functioning as a productive woman of child bearing capability, and with menopause, this function is diminished and stopped completely. A lot of hormone imbalance takes place during menopause. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis, infections, cancers, medication side effects, hypoglycemia, neurological conditions and hormone disorder are other causes of night sweats in women.

Night Sweats in Women due to Menopause
As mentioned above, night sweats are commonly associated with women going through menopause. Night sweats in women over 50, is the most common menopause symptom. The time leading up to the end of menstruation is menopause. The actual menopause is when a woman has no menstruation for more than a year. This ending usually occurs when a woman is around the age of 50. However, night sweats in women over 40 can also be due to the same reason as the symptoms might start in early forties in case of some women and last for fifteen years before actual menopause, a span of time called perimenopause. Night sweats problems often begin before the actual end of the menstrual cycle. It is an extremely slow process. The estrogen levels in the body keep fluctuating throughout the menopause stage and this causes several problems in women.

Since night sweat is a condition associated with women undergoing menopause, problem of night sweats in elderly women is very rare. By the time a woman crosses her 70s, several changes have already taken place in her body. Most women by this age would have reached menopause. After menopause, several symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats disappear. Causes of night sweats in elderly woman are quite different. It could be due to an infection or other serious conditions. If an elderly woman is suffering from this type of sweating problem, then she should be taken to the hospital for further care. Doctor may recommend blood tests for zeroing on the causes.

Night Sweats in Women: Remedies
Spicy food is known to be the cause of night sweats in a person. Also garlic and onions should be specifically avoided by a woman prone to night sweats. Regularizing one's diet and following healthy food habits is very important. Eating salads for keeping the body cool is a healthy option. Intake of leafy vegetables like lettuce and cucumber help a lot in keeping the body cleansed. Watermelon and other fruits with a high water content must be consumed regularly. Apart from having a balanced diet, one must wear comfortable and light clothing while sleeping. Indulging in high fiber foods and fresh juicy vegetables is nutritiously delicious. Keeping yourself hydrated by drinking water will help control night sweats to a great extent.

Though, night sweats in women is a common problem, it is necessary that one must take a healthy care of oneself. It is recommended to consult the doctor for the right diagnosis and the right followup thereafter.