My husband is a generally very healthy 35-year-old who suffers from frequent night sweats. He wakes up with night clothes and bed linen completely drenched. He has had this problem from a very young age, so I'm confident it isn't symptomatic of a more serious health complaint, which I know night sweats sometimes can be. There seems to be some correlation to stress. He drinks lots of water during the day, some coffee and usually has 1-2 units of alcohol every evening. He also sometimes suffers from insomnia, which again seems to be stress-related. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
You are right, night sweats can be a symptom of an underlying, more serious problem - if you are worried you should see your GP. But if you suspect the root cause is stress, and in particular pressures at work, then one of the first and easiest things one can do is to cut out caffeine by giving up tea and coffee and instead drink water or fruit juices. This will probably be difficult at first, but after a week or two should feel quite normal. Further reductions in stress levels can always be achieved by activities such as a regular walk in the park after work or, even better, twice-weekly swimming sessions.
Although I eat a reasonably healthy and balanced diet, it takes me a very long time to digest food, resulting in considerable bloating. I have been tested for wheat and dairy intolerance and thyroid, but these do not appear to be the problem. Are there any natural remedies you could suggest to speed up my metabolism?
From your letter, I assume you are suffering from constipation - one of the best remedies for which is regular physical exercise and plenty of fibre in your diet. So, why not walk to work and leave the car in the garage? Increase your intake of fibre by eating lots of fruit and cereal, preferably in the morning. This will not only speed up your metabolism, but will also benefit your heart and have other positive health effects. This is a relatively cheap remedy - and might even save you money. If you want to take a dietary supplement, there is good evidence that psyllium (Plantago ovata) is effective.
· Max H Pittler is deputy director of complementary medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. Before following Max's recommendations, you should consult your GP about any medical problems or special health conditions.
Send your questions to Wellbeing, Guardian Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Email: ask.max@theguardian.com.
