Gel Cooling Pads for Nighttime Sweats During Menopause

Ice packs and damp washcloths just make things more complicated when dealing with night sweats, but gel cooling pads are self-contained, reusable and don't leak. They are effective because they contain a coolant gel that retains the cold the pad is exposed to, so when you chill them in the freezer they stay cold for a long time. You can then use that coolness to lower your body temperature through the night.

Finding the Right Gel Cooling Pads

• Consider how you will use the gel pad before purchasing it, as some can be stiff or have uncomfortable exterior materials that do not mold well to the body. Always look for one made with a soft fabric so it will be comfortable against your skin.

Placing Cooling Pads

• It is usually best to place a gel pack against your pulse points, which include the wrists, armpits and groin, though for menopausal symptoms, such as nighttime sweating and hot flashes, the back of the neck may be the best place to locate it.
  If the gel pad is extremely cold, make sure to place a washcloth between the skin and the pad and keep it on for 20 minutes, then take it off for 20 minutes.

Combining Several Gel Pads

• Small gel pads can be strung together in a sewn wrap. Use a long, scarf-like strip of fabric wide enough to be folded over the gel pad, with an additional flap of fabric to close across the gel pack. Create pockets to hold them by stitching the folded fabric into sections (in between each gel pad), leaving the top open. Place the gel pads in the pockets and fold the excess over the pads or apply Velcro to close them snugly. The string of gel pads (three works best) can then be wrapped around the neck without falling or slipping off the pillow.