HOT FLASHES

Menopause is the natural process that marks a series of changes for women as they move from childbearing to non-childbearing years. One sign of menopause that women talk about the most is hot flashes. They occur in most women who start natural menopause or who have had their ovaries removed. During menopause the body makes less of the female hormone estrogen. Blood vessels may expand rapidly as estrogen level drops. This causes your skin temperature to rise and create hot flashes.

A hot flash may begin with a warm sensation in the chest and spread up to the shoulders, neck, and head. A flush, or redness, may appear in the same areas. Some women may feel dizzy or have a fast heartbeat. The body then reacts to cool itself by sweating. As the sweat evaporates you may feel chilled, weak, and slightly faint.

Hot flashes can occur anytime, day or night. The frequency of hot flashes varies. They may last a few seconds or 30 minutes, but most subside in 2 or 3 minutes. Hot flashes are most troublesome when they occur at night interrupting sleep. Some women with hot flashes wake up at night soaked with sweat. The loss of sleep over repeated nights can cause fatigue, irritability, or cause an inability to cope with normal activities.

To help deal with the discomfort of hot flashes, wear loose layers of clothing made from cotton or other natural fibers. Take advantage of air conditioning and keep your home cool. Drink something cold as soon as a hot flash begins.

Preventive actions to reduce the number of hot flashes include:

avoid smoking
limit intake of caffeine and alcohol
exercise moderately, 3 to 4 hours per week
use relaxation techniques to help relieve stress
avoid hot and spicy foods including white sugar
eat every 4 to 5 hours to keep blood sugar more even
avoid hot weather, hot tubs, and saunas and
eat more foods containing vitamin E (almonds, crab, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, fish, wheat germ, and whole wheat bread)

Hot flashes can occur even before periods are missed and last well into menopause. Most women with hot flashes have them for 2 years or less. A small percentage of women may have them for more than 5 years. They do need to be treated if they are bothersome or severe.

Taking the female hormone, estrogen, in small, constant amounts will stop the hot flashes and relieve other signs of menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is not without its own risk. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against the routine use of estrogen and progestin for the prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all labels on estrogen and estrogen-progestin therapies be revised to carry a warning stating the increased risks for heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer.

Before starting hormone therapy, a mammogram and blood tests will be done. Your medical history will help determine the risks to consider. Hormone therapy may be suggested if you are at risk for heart or bone problems. If you have had breast cancer or serious blood clots in the past, you may not be able to use estrogen. Women who are experiencing hot flashes should consult with their provider to choose the best course of treatment for their symptoms and state of health.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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