Hot flashes can occur due to various reasons besides menopause. Some key causes include:
- Perimenopause - The transition stage before menopause when periods become irregular can also lead to hot flashes. Fluctuating hormone levels during perimenopause trigger hot flashes.
- Medical conditions - Several medical conditions can cause hot flashes unrelated to menopause, such as:
- Hypothyroidism - An underactive thyroid gland disturbs thermoregulation.
- Carcinoid syndrome - Rare tumors releasing serotonin can cause flushing episodes.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Diabetes
- Medications - Starting or stopping certain medications, like antidepressants, chemotherapies, opioid pain medications, tamoxifen, etc. can trigger hot flashes.
- Infections - Viral infections like COVID-19 may rarely cause hot flashes.
- Anxiety disorders - Stress and anxiety could also contribute to hot flashes.
- Environment - Hot, humid environments and spicy foods can bring on hot flashes in some women.
At Balance Hormone Clinic, we offer cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment for hormonal issues like hot flashes in women and men. With a comprehensive hormone panel testing, our experts can accurately identify the root hormonal imbalance behind your symptoms. We provide personalized bioidentical hormone therapy to relieve hot flashes fast while keeping future health risks minimal.
Some key facts about causes of hot flashes unrelated to menopause:
- Perimenopause typically begins 4-5 years before menopause.
- Up to 80% perimenopausal women experience hot flashes.
- Hypothyroidism and abnormalities in thyroid hormone levels strongly link to hot flashes.
- Thyroid issues are especially common among perimenopausal and menopausal women.
- 5-10% people on chemotherapy suffer from treatment-induced hot flashes.
- Risk of hot flashes is higher with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.
- 20% women report hot flashes with tamoxifen treatment.
- 1 in 3 COVID-19 survivors have hot flash-like symptoms lasting for months.
- Anxiety disorders make hot flashes feel more intense due to exaggerated responses.
- Spicy foods, hot drinks, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, stress, tobacco, warm environments can trigger hot flashes.
The approach to diagnose and treat the underlying cause is essential for managing hot flashes.
