Hot Flashes
Most Women Experience Hot Flashes during menopause – But it can be prevented!
About 75 percent of women experience hot flashes at some point in the menopausal transition. Hot flashes are brief, lasting for from about 30 seconds to a few minutes. The frequency of hot flashes can vary from a few times each week to constantly throughout a day. Hot flashes are frequently associated with other symptoms including redness of the skin known as flushing, excessive perspiration, chills, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, headache, weakness, or a feeling of suffocation.Hot flashes at night accompanied by sweating are called, not surprisingly, “night sweats,” and may interfere with sleep.
In women, hot flashes are thought to be the result of a hormonal imbalance, usually low estrogen. However, they can also be due to “relative estrogen deficiency,” a condition in which the estrogen level appears low because of other factors, such as excessive progesterone. In men, hot flashes are due to declining levels of testosterone. In men, hot flashes are due to declining levels of testosterone.
Factors which increase the likelihood of experiencing hot flashes:
- Lack of circulating air or poor air quality
- Intense exercise
- Hot or spicy food
- Refined carbohydrates and sugar
- Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants
- Alcohol
- Hot drinks
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Anxiety or stress
- Saunas, hot tubs and showers
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— Arlenne Medina
— Chris Farrell