Q: Any advice for night sweats? - E.P.
A: Night sweats, or hyperhidrosis, are defined as excessive sweating beyond what is necessary to adequately cool down the body. Night sweats and hot flashes are bothersome symptoms that frequently occur hand-in-hand with menopause. While you may not be able to avoid these symptoms completely, there are several things you can do to help decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats.
Sleeping partners should be questioned about the patient's sleeping habits (snoring, apneic spells, and daytime sleepiness). Obstructive sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder affecting up to 4 percent of middle-aged men. It may be a common cause of heavy night sweats
Uncommonly, neurologic conditions also may cause increased sweating and possibly lead to night sweats including:
-autonomic dysreflexia
-post-traumatic syringomyelia
-stroke
Here are some quick remedies to help reduce night sweats:
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- Keep cool - Turn up the air conditioner if you do not have an air conditioner consider a floor fan to blow while you are sleeping.
- Apply a clinical strength antiperspirant to the parts of the body that are most sweaty; underarms, hands, feet, hairline, back, chest or groin
- Avoid over bundling or using a heavy comforter
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, and eating 2-3 hours before going to bed
- Eat a Mediterranean-style diet
- Practice relaxation breathing exercises prior to bed and after waking with a night sweat
- Get adequate daily exercise
- Maintain a normal weight
- Drink plenty of water during the day
- Medications known as anticholinergic agents may help reduce sweating. These should only be taken under the advice of a health care professional.
- Change your pajamas - Wear light, natural fabrics, like cotton. Wear loose fitting tank tops and shorts, rather than long-sleeved tops and pants.
- Change your sheets – Choose sheets with a thread count of 300 or less. Take the comforter off the bed.
- Stop the alcohol – Drinking alcohol before bed cancause night sweats. Spicy foods can have the same effect.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Sleep Discorders center for more helpful articles and tips.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to 'Ask Dr. Renee'. Follow me on Twitter @AskDrRenee and on my website.
