Menopause is a transitional phase in women’s lives, marking the end of their reproductive years. Around this time, most women experience uncomfortable symptoms ranging in severity and frequency, from irregular periods and low libido to mood changes and insomnia.
This article focuses on hot flashes, a common symptom affecting approximately 85% of menopausal women. It explains what causes hot flashes and provides details about treatment options.
Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. As such, it is a benign condition without life-threatening consequences. It involves a sensation of a sudden heat wave, usually in the upper part of the body.
In rare cases, hot flashes can be a sign of a more severe medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder, cancer, or a medication side effect (e.g., from chemotherapy drugs).
The medical term for a hot flash is vasomotor symptom (VMS) because it causes blood vessels to dilate in an attempt to lose heat. Other symptoms typically accompanying hot flashes include perspiration, skin flushing, heart palpitations, and discomfort. Some women feel chills as the sensation of extreme heat subsides.
The severity of hot flashes is different for every woman and ranges from mild to severe. Some women never experience them, while others suffer for over ten years.
Note: Learn more about hormonal sweating, its causes, and how to manage it.
Hot flashes appear due to fluctuating and declining estrogen in perimenopause and menopause. This hormonal imbalance leads to abnormal activity of the hypothalamus, a gland in the brain that regulates our body’s temperature. The hypothalamus mistakenly perceives slight changes in body temperature as drastic and causes intense reactions in order to quickly cool the body. Scientists don’t fully understand the mechanisms of this pathophysiology.
The factors triggering hot flashes are unique to each woman and usually include:
Hot flashes can appear at any time of day. They may be more frequent and worse at night because our bodies are more sensitive to temperature changes during sleep. Sleep deprivation night after night caused by hot flashes can have a toll on the woman’s physical and mental well-being.
Note: Hot flashes that appear at night are called night sweats. Learn more about the link between night sweats and hormones and how to alleviate the condition.
Hot flashes usually start in perimenopause when the menstrual cycle becomes irregular. The age when this happens varies. Some women experience the symptoms as early as their 30s, others in their 50s, while some never experience hot flashes.
Most women start feeling intense heat accompanied by sweating, a rapid heartbeat, and chills in their mid-40s.
Hot flashes can occur occasionally or several times a day. Some women experience one or two hot flashes every hour, while others have them once a week or less frequently. The frequency typically increases as the woman reaches menopause.
Hot flashes are typically self-diagnosed. The sensation differs from the standard feeling of being warm from an external heat source or a fever. Women recognize the sudden and intense heat wave, often followed by profuse sweating, as a hot flash.
Patients with mild symptoms usually don’t seek medical help and the confirmation of their diagnosis. However, people with more severe symptoms may visit their doctor, who makes a diagnosis based on a discussion of the patient’s symptoms, a physical examination, and blood tests.
Women who are too young to be in perimenopause or have other reasons to doubt menopause is causing their hot flashes should visit a medical professional to check for potentially serious medical conditions causing the symptoms.
You can’t prevent hot flashes, but you can monitor what activates them and avoid or minimize the triggers. Health experts recommend losing excess weight, eating in moderation, and exercising daily to help balance hormones and reduce the risk of hormonal sweating, including hot flashes.
There is no cure or preventative measure for hot flashes, but treatment options exist. Visit a reputable medical professional who will review your medical history and potential treatment risks to determine the best course of therapy for your unique health condition.
Hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms. It is FDA-approved for women in menopause with associated symptoms. The treatment balances estrogen levels and hypothalamic activity, reducing or eliminating hot flashes. Patients who have had their uterus removed can take only estrogen, while patients with a uterus need to take a combination of estrogen and progesterone to avoid the risk of estrogen-driven tumors.
Traditional hormone therapy uses synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses natural hormones derived from plants, which have an identical molecular structure to our body’s hormones. Both treatments provide significant symptom relief during menopause.
However, hormonal therapy is not suitable for all patients. Women over 60 and patients with certain medical conditions (past stroke, breast cancer, liver disease, thrombophilia, vaginal bleeding, gall bladder disease, etc.) are advised to try other treatments for hot flashes.
Note: Read more about hormone therapy, how it works, and what benefits to expect.
Several non-hormonal medications are effective in alleviating hot flashes. The most commonly prescribed are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Since estrogen stimulates serotonin production, serotonin decreases following estrogen decline. This results in a norepinephrine increase, which disrupts the hypothalamic thermostat.
The doctors’ first-choice SSRIs for hot flashes are paroxetine and escitalopram. Venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine are effective SNRIs.
Other non-hormonal prescription medications for hot flashes include anti-seizure medication, gabapentin, a blood-pressure drug, clonidine, and overactive bladder medication, oxybutynin.
A newer treatment called stellate ganglion block involves injecting an anesthetic in the neck. It may help relieve hot flashes, but more research is needed.
Many women resort to natural remedies for a hormonal balance and fewer hot flashes. They include:
Anecdotal evidence shows various herbal and vitamin supplements balance hormone production and help with menopause symptoms. They include black cohosh, vitamin E, iodine from sea kelp, red clover, ginseng, and more. The Vibrant Vitality Clinic team recommends a potent blend of 75 fulvic minerals by Osmosis MD, clinically proven to relieve symptoms of hormonal imbalances.
DIM supplements are also effective at supporting healthy estrogen metabolism and alleviating common menopause symptoms. *Be sure to discuss DIM with your healthcare practitioner before adding it to your supplement regimen.
It involves puncturing the skin with tiny needles at precise anatomical locations to relieve pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. A small study demonstrated a positive effect of acupuncture on hot flashes and menopausal sweating.
Another holistic approach, mindfulness aims to relieve the body from stress using techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
Modifying lifestyle habits that potentially trigger hot flashes is the first step toward balancing hormones and reducing uncomfortable symptoms. Patients with mild symptoms can benefit only from these practices without seeking pharmacological help.
Elevated cortisol depletes estrogen levels. Avoid stress and engage in stress-relieving activities to help decrease hormonal sweating.
Note: Learn how to lower cortisol naturally.
Diet can significantly worsen or improve menopausal symptoms. Spicy foods, processed sugars, processed fats, coffee, and alcohol are known to induce hot flashes. Eat a more balanced diet consisting of cruciferous vegetables (e.g., kale, broccoli, etc.), vegetables with high water content, healthy fats, whole grains, and phytoestrogen-rich foods (soybeans, lentils, flaxseeds, fruits, etc.) to alleviate hot flashes.
Overweight and obese women have more circulating estrogen and report more frequent and severe hot flashes. Eating in moderation and maintaining optimal weight can help alleviate them.
Exercise helps with various health parameters, including menopausal sweating. It helps regulate hormones and induce milder symptoms. However, vigorous exercise may contribute to overheating and act as a hot flash trigger. Engage in moderate daily physical activity for best results.
Cigarette smokers are more at risk of experiencing hot flashes, possibly because of higher androgen levels. If you can, quit smoking altogether because it is a risk factor for more severe conditions, including heart disease and stroke.
A hot flash typically lasts one to five minutes and sometimes longer, up to 30 minutes.
On average, women experience hot flashes for four to ten years. In rare cases, they continue to have them in post-menopause, and the symptoms never stop.
Severe hot flashes can disrupt a person’s daily life. Sometimes, they are so abrupt and uncomfortable that the patient is unable to finish a work-related task. Patients with severe night sweats may feel too exhausted during the day to perform standard activities.
Visit a doctor if your hot flashes are moderate to severe and disrupt your daily life. Also, if you suspect your hot flashes are caused by some other medical condition and not menopause, seek medical help.
Hot flashes are the most common sign of menopausal hormonal changes. Some women have mild symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others struggle with sensations of intolerable heat, excessive sweating, and anxiety and should seek medical help.
Our health professionals at Vibrant Vitality Clinic have vast experience treating hormonal imbalances, including estrogen deficiency around menopause. They will prescribe the right treatment plan for your unique health condition.
4325 E Indian School Rd, Suite 130
Phoenix, AZ 85018
United States
(480) 422-2058
info@vibrantvitalityclinic.com
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
