If you are experiencing episodes of night sweats, there might be more to it than simply feeling too warm at night. Night sweats are common phenomena that are often caused by underlying conditions or illnesses and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, fever, or diarrhea.
Night sweats often point to hormonal imbalances that may be related to, insulin, cortisol, progesterone, or estrogen — among other things.
Night sweats are most prominent in women, as they often accompany menopause, perimenopause, pregnancy, and sometimes certain stages of the menstrual cycle.
Stress and anxiety may also be major contributors to night sweats. According to a study, women have consistently higher prevalence rates of anxiety disorders, upwards of 30% of women, at some point in their lives, are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. High stress levels may manifest physically as night sweats.
It is our job as Naturopathic Doctors to listen to our patients’ stories and what they experiencing in order for us to get the full picture — which allows us to pinpoint the underlying causes of the night sweats.
After a consultation with your Naturopathic Doctor, the first step is testing to identify the root cause of your night sweats.
We perform a complete hormone profile with the DUTCH test, based on the symptoms you are experiencing. This will give us the information we need to start addressing any hormonal imbalances that you may have.
One of our go-to methods to address night sweats is bioidentical HRT (hormonal replacement therapy) to offer relief from symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
HRT may provide relief from hot flashes, reduce insomnia in post-menopausal women, improve joint pain and stiffness, and improve sexual symptoms by increasing lubrication, blood flow, and sensation in vaginal tissues.
Another method is supplementation — managing your cortisol (stress hormone) levels may help with managing your night sweats.
L Theanine, Magnolia, and Phosphatidylserine are some we recommend. You can discuss supplement options and dosage with your Naturopathic Doctor, to make sure you receive a personalized plan that suits your specific needs.
Click HERE to book an appointment with our team of experienced
Naturopathic Doctors, and take a step forward toward more restful sleep.
Dr Tasreen Alibhai, ND
References:
https://vitaliahealthcare.ca/vancouver-hormone/#bioidentical-hormone-replacement-therapy
https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2017/nams-2017-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/night-sweats/women
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21439576/
https://vitaliahealthcare.ca/lab-tests/essence-profile.html