Hot flashes are a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause that can significantly disrupt women's quality of life. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of intense warmth and sweating that can last from 30 seconds to several minutes.
What causes hot flashes?
Hot flashes are caused by decreasing estrogen levels. As women approach menopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen. This causes the body's thermostat (hypothalamus) to become more sensitive to small changes in temperature. When the hypothalamus senses heat, it initiates sweating, flushing, and dilation of blood vessels in an effort to cool the body down. However, there is often no real rise in core body temperature during a hot flash.
When do hot flashes occur?
Hot flashes most commonly occur in women over 45 approaching or going through perimenopause or menopause. However, hot flashes may happen to women of any age if they have conditions causing lowered estrogen levels, like primary ovarian insufficiency, surgery to remove the ovaries, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Hot flashes at night (night sweats) can disrupt sleep and lead to fatigue or irritability.
Managing hot flashes
While medications like low-dose estrogen therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and gabapentin can provide relief for some women, medications aren't right for everyone. At Balance Hormone Clinic, our physicians take a personalized, holistic approach to balance hormones naturally through lifestyle changes, nutrition, supplements, and bioidentical hormones tailored to your needs. With over 30 years of experience helping women tackle menopause symptoms, Balance Hormone Clinic can help you find the right solutions to ease hot flashes and improve your quality of life through menopause and beyond!
Lifestyle adjustments like dressing in breathable layers, lowering room temperatures at night, avoiding triggers like caffeine and spicy foods, reducing stress through yoga or meditation, and staying active can provide relief. Some women find that soy, black cohosh, vitamin E, magnesium, Omega-3s or acupuncture help as well. Keeping a symptom diary to identify personal triggers can help you and your doctor determine the best treatment plan.
I hope this overview on hot flashes was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you minimal menopause discomfort on your journey!