Hot flash or night sweat? What's the difference?

Estimated Reading time: 3 minutes

Menopause is just about hot flashes and no periods, right? Not quite. Night sweats are a common condition in menopause and can feel different to hot flushes. This article explores these differences and gives you some options for dealing with these conditions.

What does a hot flush or a night sweat feel like? Are they different?

“It required getting up, changing clothes or sometimes bedsheets. I found it embarrassing with my partner there beside me, almost unhygienic.”

I started getting hot flushes and night sweats in my mid-forties. 

My hot flushes would begin in my head as a sudden wave of uncomfortable tingling and heat which then whooshed down my entire body in a surge. It needed an immediate response. Off came any clothing that could be decently shed! Whatever I could lose in that moment. It could come frequently, any time day or night for a few all-consuming minutes. 

Luckily for me, there was no sudden, profuse daytime sweating. For some women there can be lots of sudden, profuse sweating, accompanied by redness of the face and a strong need to fan yourself or splash your face with water. Daytime sweating plus hot flushes can be very challenging to manage in the workplace or in social situations!

Night sweats are described as heavy sweating during sleep. In my case, I would wake suddenly and find myself drenched in sweat. Literally drenched. Sometimes I would be having a hot flush at the same time but not always. It required getting up, changing clothes or sometimes bedsheets. I found it embarrassing with my partner there beside me, almost unhygienic. Like I’d lost control of my bodily functions! I remember sometimes wondering if I had actually wet the bed?? I had no idea that night sweats were a part of menopause because they felt different to hot flushes for me. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. My body seemed to be going crazy.

Why do night sweats and hot flushes happen?

There are more questions than answers on the reason why they occur. It is generally agreed that the decreasing levels of hormones in the body during perimenopause and menopause can cause disturbances in the body’s thermostat that regulates our body temperature. 

There is some evidence to suggest that stress and anxiety can influence the frequency and intensity of hot flushes and night sweats. Some foods or alcohol can also have an impact. The good news is they’re not your lot forever. They will lessen over time as your body adjusts to its changing hormonal state. But it is worth knowing that they can last for many years.

Night-time Hot Flashes: Where to from here?

We recommend connecting with a close friend and have a chat about managing menopausal conditions

Reflect on your own experience of hot flushes and night sweats and think about your options. Here’s a few to get you started:

Start talking- It could be time to connect with a close friend and have a chat about managing menopausal conditions. There is nothing like sharing with a trusted friend so you don’t feel like you’re the only one reaching for a hand-held fan. Remember, over 80% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during perimenopause and menopause. You are not alone.

Get clear on its effect on your life. This is a big one. Only you can interprethow hot flushes and night sweats are affecting your quality of life. Maybe you’re managing ok. Maybe you’re needing more than lifestyle changes. You be the judge. Get clear on what you need.

Make the changes you need to support yourself. Once you’ve got clear on what you can do to support your body, then take action. Make that call to get help, do that research, book that appointment, adjust your lifestyle. Be proactive about this new reality in your life.

Summary

Hot flushes and night sweats are experienced by around 80% of women in their forties and fifties as part of menopause. They can present differently for different women and may involve a lot of unwanted moisture! Talking to others can help you get some perspective. By rating the impact that hot flushes and night sweats are having on your life, it’s easier to work out the best course of action to regain some equilibrium. In the meantime, can someone please open the window?!

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