If going through menopause, you probably know about the various issues you face during this period - especially hot flashes! That sudden feeling of warmth slowly creeps up your neck and into your face, making you feel like a blushing adolescent! It is not something you would want to wish on your worst enemy. It is embarrassing at times. And then those hot flashes at night, also known as night sweats. Here's what we know about what triggers these uncomfortable and annoying heat sessions and what to do about them.
Menopause is the most common cause of hot flashes. Your periods, during this time, become erratic and finally stop. Many women going through the transition experience hot flashes daily, with them persisting for seven to ten years.
Furthermore, they may be mild or intense enough to disrupt your daily activities. They can happen any time during the day or night. You can never tell when they decide to strike. Night sweats can wake you up at night and cause sleep disruptions for years.
A hot flash typically goes like this:
Hot flashes may occur as a result of hormonal changes as a result of menopause. The medical establishment is not clear on how these hormonal changes trigger hot flashes. They do, however, suggest that it results due to a decrease in estrogen levels which causes your hypothalamus to become more sensitive to body temperature changes.
Your hypothalamus is often referred to as your body’s inbuilt thermostat. When the hypothalamus perceives your body temperature is too high, it may induce various bodily changes that cool you down. You may experience this series of events as hot flashes.
But menopause is not the only cause. Other causes include:
Interestingly, not all women going through menopause get hot flashes. It is not clear why some women do while others do not.
Besides the hormonal changes associated with the menopause process, your risk factors may increase if you smoke, have a high body mass index, and belong to certain races. Literature suggests that women who smoke have a higher likelihood of getting hot flashes during menopause, as do obese women. With regard to race, African American women tend to have a higher incidence, while Asian women have the lowest. Diet may be a contributing factor in the lower rate of hot flashes in Asian women due to their higher consumption of soy products.
Your body makes use of hormones as a means of communication. Involved in various body functions, they may help with your metabolism, sleep/wake cycle, sex hormones and reproduction, body temperature signaling, and your stress response. They also play a key role in growth and development, especially in children.
Your body’s stress response, i.e., the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response, is governed by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Your Hormonal Circuit forms part of the NEM stress response. The moment stress is perceived, the HPA axis activates the NEM stress response, resulting in a cascade of events influencing every bodily process. This includes your Hormonal Circuit.
With regards to the Hormonal Circuit during the NEM stress response, you may see an increase in stress hormone production in the adrenal glands, with a decrease in the production of other hormones not considered immediately essential to keep you alive. And this is fine because all systems usually return to normal once the threat has passed.
However, prolonged stress may lead to a hormone imbalance. The same takes place with aging and menopause, where your body’s production of sex hormones may no longer be in a state of balance. You may see also estrogen dominance because of an inability to produce sufficient amounts of progesterone. In this situation, you may have lower than normal estrogen levels, but even less progesterone, which counters estrogen, and still have estrogen dominance.
Common hormonal imbalance symptoms include:
You may note that many of these symptoms correspond to those experienced by women going through menopause.
While some women live with hot flashes, other women seek out the help of a medical practitioner. A medical practitioner may suggest the use of certain medications, such as hormone therapy. These medications may also help with many of the other symptoms of menopause like mood swings and vaginal dryness.
Please note that if you decide to start a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) course, your hot flashes may come back after you stop the therapy. Also note that certain types of short-term HRT can increase your risk of breast and endometrial cancer, blood clot formation, and inflammation of the gallbladder.
Besides HRT, your healthcare provider may suggest other types of prescription medications. These include antidepressants, antiseizure medications, high blood pressure medications, or those used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When using these drugs, do take note that, although they may help, hot flashes are not the issue for which they were specifically designed. Also, do talk to your healthcare provider about the possible risks and side effects of these medications
The alternative approach to addressing hot flashes makes use of certain herbs and other natural supplements and lifestyle changes to reduce them.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking herbs or other supplements. They are best able to determine its efficacy, dosage, and suitability, taking your medical history into account. Some supplements may also interact with certain medications.
Many women may find some relief from hot flashes by getting more vitamin E. This vitamin is best gotten through your diet. Do note that high doses of vitamin E may increase your bleeding risk and have been associated with other negative outcomes.
Many women suffering from hot flashes have lower B vitamin levels than they should. Thus, a B complex vitamin supplement may help.
Asian women tend to have the lowest incidence of hot flashes. This may result from the typical Asian diet that sees a higher consumption of soy products. Soy products contain isoflavones. These chemical compounds have an estrogen-like effect and could help address hot flashes. Research conducted in 2014 suggests that soy isoflavones could reduce them by over 25%.
Black cohosh root, native to North America, may help ease the symptoms of hot flashes. Studies, however, have had mixed results. Please note that you should not use this remedy if you have any liver issues.
Native to East Asia, dong quai is often taken with black cohosh to address hot flashes. Few studies have investigated its effect, though. Please note it is not suitable for use in those who take blood-thinning medications.
While many women claim ginseng has helped address hot flashes, studies do not thus far support this claim. It may, however, help with other menopausal symptoms like insomnia and mood swings.
Extracted from a flower, evening primrose oil, according to a 2013 study, could help address the intensity of hot flashes. Do note, however, that this herb could interfere with the actions of certain psychiatric and blood thinning medications.
Certain alternative therapies may help ease the severity or frequency.
You can manage some of the effects of hot flashes if you know your triggers. This means you need to take note of what happened immediately before a hot flash starts. Noting this down in a journal can be helpful. By identifying your triggers, you enable yourself to avoid certain situations or to make certain lifestyle changes that will help reduce the symptoms and frequency of hot flashes.
The lifestyle changes to manage include:
Pregnant women often suffer from hot flashes, depending on where they are in their pregnancy. To help, wear loose, light clothing and keep room temperatures down. You can also keep a cool wet cloth nearby to wipe your face, neck, and chest. Also, avoid going out during the warmest part of the day.
Please note that none of these strategies will stop the occurrence of hot flashes, but they can help you deal with them more effectively.
Hot flashes may or may not be a symptom of menopause. If you find yourself getting them, please talk to your healthcare provider to find out the cause. It could be a symptom of another underlying health issue.
If menopause causes your hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms, you may opt, with the advice of your healthcare provider, to let nature run its course. Of course, if things get too difficult, you could consider using natural remedies and alternative strategies to help. If your situation shows no improvement and your hot flashes influence your quality of life, you may, with your healthcare provider, decide on HRT or other conventional medications. Do take note, however, that these medications have risks involved. Ask your healthcare provider to explain both the pros and cons of any medication before using it.
Hot flashes are uncomfortable and embarrassing at times. It is one of the most common signs of menopause, and many women have to deal with it. For some, hot flashes are something that occurs now and then without really affecting their lives. For others, they are debilitating.
Fortunately, there is much you can do to help you deal with hot flashes. You can consider making lifestyle changes, using natural supplements, or seeking out various therapies. You may even seek your healthcare provider’s advice on HRT and other conventional medications. However, these medications have risks, so thoroughly discuss their pros and cons and keep in mind other health issues you have or medications you currently use.
If you would like to know more about how to deal with these and other symptoms of hormone imbalance, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234. We will privately discuss your symptoms and concerns and provide possible solutions. Alternatively, you can send us a question through the Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.
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There is no way to completely eliminate hot flashes. Certain conventional medications such as HRT may help ease the symptoms, but these come with some dangerous side effects, such as increased risk for cancer. Natural remedies and certain therapies may also provide relief in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. For most women, they eventually go away as you move through postmenopause.
