Hot flashes, irritability and anxiety affect many women at some point during the years before and after their last menstrual period. Although the specific causes for increased anxiety in menopause are unknown, caffeine may be a trigger, according to "Pause," an e-newsletter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Eliminating or cutting down on caffeine may reduce hot flashes, improve your sleep patterns and ease your anxiety.
Symptoms
In the years surrounding menopause -- the conclusion of your menstrual periods -- your production of the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases. During this time, about three-fourths of women experience hot flashes, which may or may not be related to hormonal changes, according to the Merck Manual. In addition to sudden surges of heat and flushing, you may experience heart palpitations, sweating and a sense of anxiety when you have one of these episodes.
Contributing Factors
The caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks or certain foods and over-the-counter medications may trigger hot flashes and provoke anxiety during menopause. However, other factors may play a role in your mental health at this phase in your life, WomensHealth.gov notes. You may have increased anxiety due to hormonal changes, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, disturbed sleep patterns or increased stress. Financial worries, family conflicts or concerns about health and aging may increase anxiety in menopausal women.
Effects
Caffeine may cause anxiety by over-stimulating your central nervous system, according to MayoClinic.com. If you're consuming more than 500 to 700 mg of caffeine daily in coffee, tea, sodas, sports drinks or over-the-counter pain relievers, you may experience tremors, nervousness, a sense of panic, an irregular heartbeat and other symptoms that resemble an anxiety attack. Caffeine may also disrupt your sleep patterns, worsening the insomnia and night sweats that many women experience during menopause. A chronic cardiovascular disorder such as mitral valve prolapse or an acute cardiac condition may produce physical symptoms in women that are similar to the signs of an anxiety attack, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Consult your health-care provider for an evaluation of any recent changes in your physical or mental status.
Recommendations
The ACOG recommends that you avoid or limit caffeine consumption during menopause, especially if you have been experiencing anxiety, hot flashes or night sweats. Because caffeine can stay in your system for up to six hours, you should limit consumption to mornings or early afternoons. If you decide to eliminate caffeine completely, you may notice increased nervousness, edginess, headaches or increased insomnia at first. To prevent the side effects of caffeine withdrawal, cut back on your caffeine consumption gradually. Drink one less serving of coffee, tea or soda each day until you've eliminated caffeine altogether, MayoClinic.com advises. If you continue to have nervousness, depression or irritability after reducing caffeine, talk with your health-care provider. Your anxiety may be a clinical condition rather than a side effect of menopause or caffeine use.
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