Battling The Night Sweats With Menopause PajamasMost menopausal women are subjected to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to counter the effects of menopause. Thousands of women begin to feel the symptoms of menopause every year. Symptoms begin some time before the onset of menopause and may come in the form of depression, anxiety, the inability to concentrate, irritability, mood swings and hot flashes. While HRT has been proven effective in combating these symptoms, experts found that it can increase the risk for breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Because of this, most women now prefer to handle the symptoms “alternatively”. One effective way to combat hot flashes is with the use of menopause pajamas and pillowcases. Hot flashes are perhaps the most recognized and most miserable of the menopause symptoms to experience. Episodes of hot flashes refer to the brief and periodic increases in body temperature due to a drop in estrogen levels. It occurs at all times of the day or night and up to 20 times daily. During day time, wearing light, cotton-based fabrics help alleviate the discomfort of hot flashes. When it occurs at night, however, it can be very uncomfortable and could exacerbate other symptoms of menopause. These episodes are called “night sweats.” However, hot flashes are not only confined to menopausal or peri-menopausal women. Women undergoing cancer treatment and other diseases that affect the estrogen levels may also experience these symptoms. For all of these women, wicking fabric used for menopause pajamas is a boon as it is an answer to their “night sweats” dilemma. “Wicking” is a term that is more traditionally used in gardening. It is used to refer to the capillary action of a stem that pulls moisture upward. When applied to clothing, wicking refers to polyester fabrics that draw moisture away from the body and into the atmosphere. Such fabrics typically dry easily so this prevents soaking. There are typically two kinds of wicking fabrics:
Of the two, the former is more effective in keeping moisture away (longer too!) even after repeated washings. If you want to be comfortable even with hot flashes then use wicking fabrics for nightwear, pillows and sheets; otherwise, you can expect to get soaked in your own sweat while waking up at uncomfortable hours of the night. The wicking property is registered under different names, including Performax and Freshguard. And because of their moisture management property, these fabrics can also eliminate odors. Some stores that cater especially to menopausal women carry all these products. Costs are variable, depending on the style. Pajamas can go for as low as $50 up to $100 a set, shorts for $21, night shirts for $50 and long nightgowns go for $42 to $55. Pillows can go for $40 for a set of two. Wicking bed sheets are also available for all bed sizes, including deep pocket beds. Each sheet retails for $100 to $140. This can be an ideal gift to a fellow sufferer so go check some online stores that offer wicking fabric pillowcases that are packaged attractively. Even Men can suffer from the sweats, although perhaps not the same way. Wicking nightwear for men are also available from some shops, as well as underwear and other clothing for both men and women. Menopause need not be uncomfortable and messy. All one needs is a little support and a pair of menopause pajamas. |