Sleep deprivation, hot flashes - linked, but not how we thought
"Private summers"
"Mini tropical vacation"
"My own personal trip around the sun"
Whatever you choose to call them, hot flashes are not just "sweatin'" - - to the oldies. I've known an unlucky few to suffer with them in their early twenties. *raises hand* They're also not reserved just for women. Even men going thru androgen deprivation therapy for cancer, or those with hormonal trouble experience these unwelcome instant trips to the sun and back.
Those of us dealing with hot flashes or night sweats usually experience another crazy aspect to them that remains largely unexplained:
Hot flashes and night sweats get you at bedtime.
That just seems like dirty pool to me.
It makes sense that you would begin to feel exhausted during the day, when hot flashes woke you from a deep, relaxed sleep, forcing you to get up, change clothes, or for the brave errrr - desperate - a quick trip to the cold front porch in your underwear. (It's a good thing I live out in the country where nobody can see me standing out in the snow happily rubbing scoops of it on face and arms at 3 in the morning, lol!) When the pattern continues for days, months or years, well the effect feels clear to me. However...
I found some research is hinting that your sleep deprivation may have nothing to do with your hot flashes after all...
A 2008 article in Science News shows researchers may no longer think that hot flashes are the only culprit.
The study found that about half of the menopausal women involved had a primary sleep disorder like sleep apnea in addition to their hot flashes.
What does that mean in real life? Simply put, researchers are now not so sure hot flashes should be getting all the bad press. In fact, the study suggests that simply treating the hot flash symptoms will do little to correct sleep deprivation if the patient has another hidden sleep disorder causing a problem.
The study was small, but strong. A conclusion to be drawn is that sleep deprivation is a good reason for taking action to rule out other causes of sleep trouble aside from or in addition to the obvious hot flashes. It also causes me to ask myself, is there a point at which age (something most with hot flashes tend to be longer on) might play a part in both problems. Hmmm.
I'll be honest. I'm not sure I'm completely buying the study's findings. I've had a sleep study done. They didn't find apnea or other cause for my sleep trouble other than disruption by hormones and pain. When the hormone issues are quiet, and the pain is quelled, I actually sleep pretty well. Perhaps I don't fit into the proverbial box, but I'm not special. If I don't fit into the box, I assume there are many others out there who don't either. I remain convinced that, so long as hot flashes are hitting me in the middle of the night, I will likely stay sleep deprived.
Still, I am someone who believes there are circumstances in which illness should be ruled out, and disordered sleep is one of them. The toll taken on the mind, body and soul of someone suffering sleep trouble is well worth and uncomfortable night covered from head to toe in wires, sleeping in a strange bed with cameras trained on your every move. :) These tests can be life altering... and life saving.
As sleep leaders, do you find people reluctant to discuss embarrassing hot flashes, or do they seem open in an online forum in which they can remain anonymous? Do you think they are being candid with their questions, or is there still a stigma that has them holding back? How frequently do your community members bring up hot flashes as a cause of sleep deprivation?
All kidding aside - most sleep leaders I've met thus far are young, and interestingly enough - male. I'm concerned there may not be enough awareness about the brutal reality of hot flashes. Awareness about the subject, and taking it seriously (even though the approach can be silly) is really vital. I'm curious - now that you know about this study, do you think this is important enough you will be taking action to bring the information out in your communities where it can help patients who may feel too embarrassed to mention it publicly?
"Mini tropical vacation"
"My own personal trip around the sun"
Whatever you choose to call them, hot flashes are not just "sweatin'" - - to the oldies. I've known an unlucky few to suffer with them in their early twenties. *raises hand* They're also not reserved just for women. Even men going thru androgen deprivation therapy for cancer, or those with hormonal trouble experience these unwelcome instant trips to the sun and back.
Those of us dealing with hot flashes or night sweats usually experience another crazy aspect to them that remains largely unexplained:
Hot flashes and night sweats get you at bedtime.
That just seems like dirty pool to me.
It makes sense that you would begin to feel exhausted during the day, when hot flashes woke you from a deep, relaxed sleep, forcing you to get up, change clothes, or for the brave errrr - desperate - a quick trip to the cold front porch in your underwear. (It's a good thing I live out in the country where nobody can see me standing out in the snow happily rubbing scoops of it on face and arms at 3 in the morning, lol!) When the pattern continues for days, months or years, well the effect feels clear to me. However...
I found some research is hinting that your sleep deprivation may have nothing to do with your hot flashes after all...
A 2008 article in Science News shows researchers may no longer think that hot flashes are the only culprit.
The study found that about half of the menopausal women involved had a primary sleep disorder like sleep apnea in addition to their hot flashes.
What does that mean in real life? Simply put, researchers are now not so sure hot flashes should be getting all the bad press. In fact, the study suggests that simply treating the hot flash symptoms will do little to correct sleep deprivation if the patient has another hidden sleep disorder causing a problem.
The study was small, but strong. A conclusion to be drawn is that sleep deprivation is a good reason for taking action to rule out other causes of sleep trouble aside from or in addition to the obvious hot flashes. It also causes me to ask myself, is there a point at which age (something most with hot flashes tend to be longer on) might play a part in both problems. Hmmm.
I'll be honest. I'm not sure I'm completely buying the study's findings. I've had a sleep study done. They didn't find apnea or other cause for my sleep trouble other than disruption by hormones and pain. When the hormone issues are quiet, and the pain is quelled, I actually sleep pretty well. Perhaps I don't fit into the proverbial box, but I'm not special. If I don't fit into the box, I assume there are many others out there who don't either. I remain convinced that, so long as hot flashes are hitting me in the middle of the night, I will likely stay sleep deprived.
Still, I am someone who believes there are circumstances in which illness should be ruled out, and disordered sleep is one of them. The toll taken on the mind, body and soul of someone suffering sleep trouble is well worth and uncomfortable night covered from head to toe in wires, sleeping in a strange bed with cameras trained on your every move. :) These tests can be life altering... and life saving.
As sleep leaders, do you find people reluctant to discuss embarrassing hot flashes, or do they seem open in an online forum in which they can remain anonymous? Do you think they are being candid with their questions, or is there still a stigma that has them holding back? How frequently do your community members bring up hot flashes as a cause of sleep deprivation?
All kidding aside - most sleep leaders I've met thus far are young, and interestingly enough - male. I'm concerned there may not be enough awareness about the brutal reality of hot flashes. Awareness about the subject, and taking it seriously (even though the approach can be silly) is really vital. I'm curious - now that you know about this study, do you think this is important enough you will be taking action to bring the information out in your communities where it can help patients who may feel too embarrassed to mention it publicly?
Tags: apnea, cancer, hormones, hot flashes, menopause, pain, sleep, sleep deprivation
Comment
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Comment by Alicia C. Staley on November 8, 2009 at 11:41pm - I've suffered from sleep issues and hot flashes for years now. I always wondered if there was a connection between the two. I find that stress triggers hot flashes and night sweats for me. I think this whole issue is like the "chicken and the egg" debate. What comes first? The sleep disorders or the hot flashes? It's such a complex issue no matter what why you look at it. I still treat these as separate issues, but I'd be interested to see the sleep-hot flashes connection researched in greater detail Keep me posted! Thank you.
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Comment by paindfoot on November 7, 2009 at 11:14pm - Wow! And here I thought it was just me? I always blamed menopause for having those middle of the night blasts of hot desert air. Most forums that I come in contact with, we joke about what a blessing and a curse that menopause is. The fact that we no longer have monthly periods and at the same time we joke about hot flashes and how disruptive they are.The majority of the women I talk to, also have them during the day, so I don't think that many have made the connection. I would be more than willing to take it to the other forums and just see what happens.
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