One of the first and most important steps in finding menopause relief is to recognize what is triggering your night sweats and hot flashes. These are the most complained about menopause symptoms and can almost always be helped.
Once you learn that the night sweats are an indication of your hormones being out of balance, you discover that you can take action to bring them back into balance, and thus help reduce the night sweats. This approach is much better than just taking some kind of medication to relieve the annoyance temporarily.
Stress is one of the main triggers
If you observe your hot flashes and night sweats for a few weeks, you will recognize a pattern of sorts. For example: if you are worried about finances, or are having trouble with a teenager or partner, very often the hot flashes are more frequent.
Fatigue also places stress on the hormonal system because the adrenal glands become exhausted from trying to keep pumping out adrenaline to keep you alert and on your toes. Eventually, they just slow down and the hormonal production is affected. This, in turn, makes you ripe for more hot flashes.
Excessive caffeine has a similar effect on the adrenals. The stimulating dose of caffeine perks you up, and then wears off, making your hormones like a yo-yo. Up and down, up and down, until you are exhausted, which sets you up for more symptoms of menopause.
Keep a journal
Writing down the circumstances and conditions of your hot flashes will ensure that you notice some kind of pattern. When you see it on paper it is much easier to recognize some similarities in their occurrence and the surroundings.
Like most things, if you don't write it down, chances are you will forget or fail to see the patterns. It could even lead you to see related things as well that you were previously unaware of. One woman I know thought there was no connection at all between her stress levels and hot flashes, until she began recording them. It became clear that whenever she was around people she considered to be important she had hot flashes. She also realized who she was regarding as important!
What if you have tried everything already?
Some women are healthy, they monitor their stress levels, they eat well, take vitamins, but still they have these annoying hot flashes and night sweats. What more can you do?
Begin at the beginning. Keeping a journal will not require much time or effort, but can very likely help you find some lasting menopause relief. Start working consciously on the triggers that bring on the hot flash. If it is spicy food, cut out the spicy food. If it is being around important people, work on managing your stress through deep breathing and your attitude.
Find the connections, and there will certainly be some, and make a plan of action. Educate yourself by reading quality materials. Eat the foods you know make a difference, get the rest you know you need, de-stress your life, if possible. Maybe the supplements you take could be improved on. Recent studies have shown real promise in flax seed, for instance. Just don't give up and suffer needlessly!
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