What are Hot Flashes and Who Usually Gets Them? Hot flashes are one of the most notorious symptoms of perimenopause—the time when a woman’s body prepares for menopause. True to their name, hot flashes seem to attack the body out of nowhere (especially in the middle of the night).
They can start with a dull headache, which leads to a pronounced feeling of warmth in the head and neck. From there, the heat spreads to the upper chest area and the body tries to fight the building heat by sweating. After about two to five minutes—which can seem like an eternity—the sweat causes a chill over the body. There is no predicting when hot flashes will happen and there is really little to be done once they start. About 75% of women approaching menopause will experience hot flashes at some point, although the intensity will vary with the individual. Of this 75% there have been studies that show that some women are more likely to have them. These groups include women who:
Hot flashes occur as a result of the fluctuation of hormones during perimenopause. Not much is known about the actual trigger for them, but there is no doubt that hot flashes are a very real and very uncomfortable part of menopause for many women. |
The hot flash usually starts with a small gland in the brain called the hypothalamus. The gland controls the body’s temperature, acting as a sort of thermostat. During a hot flash, the hypothalamus resets itself, wreaking havoc on the body’s temperature. The hypothalamus is affected the rising and falling amounts of progesterone and estrogen during perimenopause. The hormones change because the maturing ovaries are shutting down and not producing a consistent amount of the two ingredients needed to keep the reproductive cycle regular. Once there is an imbalance of hormones, the body physically reacts, attempting to regain its equilibrium. The result: a racing heart, overworked blood vessels and the birth of a hot flash.
Blood vessels expand and the heart begins to beat faster. This combination causes blood to rise to the body’s surface, creating an uncomfortable hot sensation and a flushing appearance. When suffering a hot flash, a woman's body will begin to sweat, and understandably so. Though unpleasant for some women due to social conceptions of propriety, sweating is actually beneficial to the body and it can help to alleviate the hot flash. As sweat evaporates from the skin, a woman’s body will cool helping her to combat the hot flash. Unfortunately for many women, dizziness and chills often follow the hot flash. In addition feelings of anxiety often accompany the hot flash as well. While these additional symptoms do not occur for every woman, those women who do suffer from them can sometimes mitigate their effects through diet and activity adjustments in addition to medication and our herbal treatment. On average, a hot flash lasts only a few moments, but can reoccur every two to four hours. |
Not only are actual flashes hard to bear, but there are other side effects that come along for the ride. Headaches and nausea are most common after effects from a hot flash. The profuse sweating can sometimes be enough to soak the sheets. This night sweating can then lead to insomnia—which can aggravate the hot flashes and other symptoms of perimenopause. While there is no prevention for hot flashes, doctors are working toward better treatments to help women deal with the discomfort of them. More non invasive methods such as herbal remedies and improved exercise and diet can help. If these are tried and fail, a woman can get advice from her doctor about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Long thought to be the best treatment for hot flashes, HRT is now in question, with controversies that the potential side effects may outweigh the benefits. HRT is still a viable option for many women, but the decision must be after careful consideration and a thorough screening by a physician. Until more is learned about the triggers of the physical and chemical phenomenon of hot flashes, women must rely on reading their own bodies, getting as much information as they can about the condition and treatment and their doctors to deal with the side effects of “aging gracefully.” Return to the "Menopause Articles page" |
