Caffeine may worsen the hot flashes and night sweats that
affect more than 80 percent of women as they go through menopause, says a new
study.
Researchers suggest that limiting caffeine intake may be
helpful for those postmenopausal women who have worrisome hot flashes and night
sweats.
However, caffeine — a stimulant found in coffee, medications and chocolate — appears to have a
different effect on women beginning the transition into menopause.
In their case, caffeine stimulates their mood, memory and
concentration, states the study
The study, published in the journal
Menopause, stem
from a Mayo Clinic poll of as many as 1,800 menopausal women conducted between
2005 and 2011.
Symptoms were compared between caffeine users and nonusers.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, director of the
Women's Health
Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, noted that there were many
management strategies to handle the challenging menopause symptoms effectively.
"One way to gain some control over worrisome symptoms is to
be careful about what one eats. This means generally forgoing spicy food and
hot beverages, as well as caffeine, alcohol and tobacco," Dr. Stephanie Faubion
said.
Given that about 85 percent of Americans consume caffeine in
some form on a daily basis, Faubion and her researching team tried to ascertain
to what degree the stimulant might affect the gravity of hot flashes and night
sweats.
According to the researchers, previous research on the
question has offered mixed results. But responses to the current survey showed
that caffeine intake does appear to aggravate and worsen such symptoms, they
found.
Researchers suggested dressing in removable layers, and
sleeping with moisture-control bedding as extra means to manage the discomforts
of hot flashes and night sweats
A woman generally reaches menopause —the time when her
periods stop— between age 45 and 55.
Source: Medindia
Careers
