How to COOL THE HEAT

“For menopause-related night sweats, hormone therapy is the go-to, because it replaces the waning oestrogen,” says Dr Streicher. There are also non-hormonal supplements for treating moderate to severe hot flushes and night sweats. If your doctor suspects that something else is going on, you can help by keeping daily notes on things like where you are in your menstrual cycle, and even how stressed you feel or if you overdid it on dessert or cocktails. Blood tests can indicate whether your thyroid is the issue.

Lifestyle interventions can sometimes help your body better regulate its temperature throughout the night. Beyond the obvious (wear lightweight, loose-fitting pyjamas or none at all, keep the central heating thermostat to between 15°C and 20°C… you’ve heard ’em before), you might add some resistance training to your exercise routine. One recent study found that three 45-minute strength sessions a week reduced hot flushes and night sweats by almost 50 per cent after just 15 weeks. Replacing carb-rich junk food with more nutritious, blood-sugar stabilising choices can also help nix symptoms, adds Dr Sholes-Douglas.

Whatever you do, talk to your doctor about your night sweats rather than simply attributing them to a natural part of ageing. And if you get the “Oh, it’s just menopause” brush-off at that appointment, see someone else! “Most doctors chalk up night sweats as no big deal, which is a major problem,” Dr Streicher says. “If this happens to you, try to find an expert in menopause – or at least a GP who takes your symptoms seriously.”