What Are Hot Flashes?
A hot flash is a quick sensation of warmth in the upper body, usually centered on the face, neck, and chest. It’s possible that your skin will flush, as though you’re blushing. Sweating is another symptom of a hot flash. You could become cold if you lose too much body heat. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night and can cause sleep disruption.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of women going through the menopausal transition (perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause), but they can also be caused by other medical issues. Hot flashes affect about 70% of women at some time throughout the menopausal transition.
Hot flashes in men, young women, and pregnant women can be caused by medical problems that interfere with the body’s capacity to regulate temperature.
How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?
Hot flashes are usually brief, lasting anything from a few seconds to several minutes. The subject of how long hot flashes last during a woman’s lifetime is a different one. Traditionally, it was thought that hot flashes only lasted a few years for women. According to new research, many women may experience hot flashes for longer periods of time.
The average duration of hot flashes was 4.9 years in a study from the University of Pennsylvania, although up to a third of women had hot flashes for up to 10 years. Hot flashes lasted an average of 7.4 years overall and 4.5 years after the previous menstrual period, in a Study of Women Across the Nation (SWAN).
Causes of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are usually caused by the complicated hormonal changes that accompany aging, particularly the diminishing levels of estrogen as a woman approaches menopause. The hot sensation is caused by a problem with thermoregulation (the body’s processes for controlling and regulating body temperature), although the exact way in which fluctuating hormone levels affect thermoregulation is unknown.
Hot flashes are regarded as a typical sign of the menopausal transition. They can also occur in women and men, in situations other than perimenopause (such as in young women or during pregnancy) as a result of rare medical problems that impair the thermoregulation mechanism.
Hot flashes are also caused by carcinoid syndrome, which is caused by a type of endocrine tumor that secretes high levels of the hormone serotonin. It can also be a side effect of some drugs and can occur as a result of severe infections or malignancies that are accompanied by fevers and/or night sweats.
Symptoms of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are usually brief, lasting anything from a few seconds to several minutes. Hot flashes may be accompanied by flushing, a reddening of the skin. Excessive perspiration (sweating) can also occur; hot flashes can be followed by night sweats when they occur during sleep.
Hot flashes may also be accompanied by anxiety. During hot flashes, palpitations (the sensation of a speeding heart) develop. The onset of hot flashes in women approaching menopause can occur at any time. While not all women may suffer hot flashes, many women who are menstruating will begin to experience them several years before their period end. It’s impossible to say whether a woman will get hot flashes and when they’ll start. Hot flashes affect 40 percent to 85 percent of women at some stage throughout the menopausal transition.
Risk Factors of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes aren’t experienced by all women going through menopause, and it’s unclear why some do. The following are some factors that may enhance your risk:
Smoking
Hot flashes are more common among women who smoke.
Obesity
A greater body mass index (BMI) is linked to more frequent hot flashes.
Race
Hot flashes are reported by more black women than women of other races during menopause. Asian women are the least likely to get hot flashes.
Complications of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes can have an impact on your day-to-day activities as well as your overall quality of life. Nighttime hot flashes (night sweats) might wake you up and impair your sleep for a long time. Hot flashes have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and bone loss in women.
How to Prevent Hot Flashes
You can’t prevent hot flashes when you’re going through menopause, however, you can avoid triggers that make them worse. Typical examples are:
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Garments that are too tight
- Heat
- Spicy food
- Smoke from a cigarette
Here are some other ways to manage hot flashes:
Stay Cool
A “chill cushion” filled with water or other cooling material can be useful at night. Try using fans during the day. You might also want to wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing made of natural fabrics like cotton.
Experiment with slow, deep belly breathing (6 to 8 breaths per minute). Deep breathing should be practiced for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes at night, and if a hot flash occurs.
Take Herbs
Plant estrogens, which can be present in soy products, may have estrogen-like properties that can help with hot flashes. Instead of pills, doctors recommend getting your soy from meals like tofu and edamame. According to certain studies, black cohosh may be beneficial for a period of 6 months or less. Botanicals and herbs may cause negative effects or alter the way other prescriptions operate, so consult your doctor before using them.
Exercise on a Daily Basis
Swimming, walking, bicycling, and dancing are all excellent options for dealing with hot flashes.
How to Treat Hot Flashes
Hot flashes can be treated with a variety of methods; let’s look at some.
Hormone Therapy
Hot flashes have traditionally been treated with estrogen, either in the form of an oral pill or a transdermal patch. Hormone therapy (HT) or postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT), often known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a treatment that uses estrogens alone or in combination with progesterone (progestin) to treat women after they have reached menopause (progestin). Prescription estrogen medicines, whether oral or transdermal, are all beneficial in lowering the frequency and severity of hot flashes. However, breast cancer, stroke, and heart attack are all risks of this type of treatment.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
The use of bioidentical hormone therapy for perimenopausal women has sparked increased attention in recent years. Bioidentical hormone preparations are drugs that include hormones that are chemically identical to those produced naturally in the body.
Other Prescription Drugs
Here are some prescription drugs that help in alleviating the symptoms of hot flashes:
- Clonidine (Catapres) is an anti-hypertensive medication that can help some women with hot flashes. Clonidine is a blood pressure medication that is either administered as a tablet or as a skin patch. Dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, and difficulties sleeping are all possible side effects of clonidine.
- Megestrol acetate (Megace) is a progestin that is occasionally administered to reduce hot flashes for a brief period of time, although it is not normally suggested as a first-line treatment for hot flashes. If the medication is abruptly stopped, serious side effects can develop. Megestrol may cause weight gain as a side effect.
- You can reduce menopausal hot flashes with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medicines. These medications are commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Paroxetine (Brisdelle) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is licensed to treat moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause.
- Another progestin medication is medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), which is given as an injection to treat hot flashes. It has the potential to cause weight gain as well as bone loss.
- Gabapentin (Neurontin), a seizure medication, has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of hot flashes.
Now that you Know…
Hot flashes are still a common symptom among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. They are often eased and the quality of life of women with hot flashes is improved by a thorough approach to diagnosis and management, utilizing predefined procedures. It is also important you speak with your doctor before starting any new drug or supplement, including over-the-counter ones.
