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Help for Night Sweats and Headaches

As a woman enters menopause, she may experience night sweats and headaches. These are brought about by a decrease in the production of estrogen. Estrogen is an important hormone used by a woman's body to maintain her menstrual cycle and fertility. As a woman ages, the production of estrogen decreases. By treating the symptoms of menopause, you may find help for night sweats and headaches.

  1. Hormone Therapy

    • Hormone therapy is a common remedy prescribed for the relief of menopause. Medications containing one or both of the hormones estrogen and progestin can be used. Hormone therapy is taken as a pill, a patch, an injection or as a vaginal cream. Your doctor will determine the strength and combination of hormones you need through a blood test.

      In 2002, a study by the Women's Health Initiative revealed that hormone therapy carries risks for some women. These include an increased risk for heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and blood clots.

    Phytoestrogens

    • Alternative choices that may help night sweats include phytoestrogens, which occur naturally in soy products, chickpeas, flaxseed oil and supplements containing isoflavones. Phytoestrogens mimic the action of estrogen in the body. Adding these foods may help relieve your menopausal symptoms. A small risk is associated with phytoestrogens with women who have a history of reproductive cancers.

    Herbal Choices

    • One of the theories behind herbal remedies is to choose cooling plants such as chickweed, elder and violet. To increase oxygen utilization in the liver dong quai, dandelion, HoShou Wu and yellow dock are recommended. Black cohash is an herb that is rich in phytosterols, naturally occurring plant hormones that mimic the effect of estrogen. You may find help using these herbal remedies at a natural food store or through an alternative medical professional. No scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of these herbs, but some women have experienced relief by using them.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • Lifestyle changes can help give you some relief from headaches and night sweats. Limiting caffeine intake, wearing lighter clothing and keeping your bedroom cool at night may help you keep cool. Regular exercise, not smoking, meditation and yoga will help keep you healthy and may provide relief.

    Help for Headaches

    • A stress headache is the most common type of headache that occurs during menopause. Over-the-counter medications to treat stress headaches include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxyn sodium. Acetaminophen is also used to treat stress headaches. If your headaches are severe, you may want to consult your doctor about prescription options.

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