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High levels of routine physical activity during the day may help relieve sleep problems caused by hot flashes or night sweats in menopausal women, a small new study suggests.

Researchers at the Pittsburgh site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation studied 27 white women and 25 black woman, aged 54 to 63, with hot flashes and night sweats. The women reported their physical activity levels, including household chores, requiring light, moderate or vigorous effort, as well as sports and exercise in their leisure time. They also kept sleep diaries and wore sleep monitors.

The study found that women with higher levels of daytime activity reported waking up less during the night and had better sleep. Researchers note that these women reported doing household and caregiving chores during the day, according to Health Day.

The research in inconclusive, but the positive effects of physical activity occurred mainly in white women who were not obese. According to researchers, further research is needed to find out why black women who are obese may not get the same sleep benefits from physical activity.

The study was conducted by Maya Lambiase and Rebecca Thurston and published in a print issue of the journal Menopause.