Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years of a woman. The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes. It affects more than 80% of menopausal women and can last many years. Every woman can experience hot flashes differently and for different periods.
What is a hot flash?
A hot flash is a transient feeling of heat, sweating, redness in your face and neck, anxiety, and chills lasting for 1-5 minutes. When you have a hot flash while sleeping at night, it is called night sweat.
Menopause occurs when there is a drop in reproductive hormones, ‘estrogen’ and ‘progesterone’. The link between a drop in estrogen and hot flashes is yet to be understood. However, researchers believe that little to no estrogen levels lead to changes in circulation and hypersensitivity that affects your body’s ability to control temperature.
How can you prevent hot flashes?
There are no treatments to prevent hot flashes. However, there are measures and lifestyle changes that can help improve the severity and frequency of your hot flashes.
Hormone replacement therapy
According to the North American Menopause Society, hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes.
You can contact us if you are considering HRT. We will discuss your needs, health status, and other factors and determine if you should start the therapy and for how long.
Other measures include:
- Eat a soy-based diet.
- Avoid triggers such as stress, smoking, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, and heat can cause and worsen hot flashes.
- Keep your bedroom cool using chill pillows, fans, or an air conditioner.
- Drink cold water.
- Wear loose-fitting and lightweight clothes.
- Exercise daily. Exercise can be fun with choices like walking, jogging, dancing, jumping rope, and swimming.
- Take supplements. Discuss with your doctor before using any supplements to relieve hot flashes.
