What are hot flashes

One of the characteristics of menopause – Hot flashes occur due to the changes in hormone levels. Hot flashes are typically an experience of feeling heat in the body. This can last from two to thirty minutes each time it occurs. The sensation which generally starts from chest or face and sometimes from back of the neck and then gets spread throughout the body is often accompanied by sweating and rapid heartbeats. It also becomes a cause of night sweats, anxiety, and sleep problems. In this, the skin surface becomes hot to touch and gets reddening on face. This is the reason why it is called hot flash. The severity differs from person to person.

Hot Flashes Menopause

Menopause is the period of a woman’s life when her menstrual cycle ends. The estrogen and progesterone hormone level declines at the period of menopause. The body tries to produce more brain hormone named Gonadotropin hormone (GnRH) for fertility. GnRh also regulates heat sensors in the brain and with the higher level of GnRH, the body mistakenly assumes it that the body is overheating and opens the blood vessels from head and neck to cool itself. This causes perspiration which is known as menopause hot flashes. Some women experience hot flashes even after few months of menopause which is known as hot flashes after menopause or post menopausal hot flashes. It is noticed that in post menopausal hot flashes the body perspires even at the temperature rise of 96 to 97 Fahrenheit degree. Primenopause hot flashes can start as early as a decade before menopause. Generally, it will have similar symptoms as menopause hot flashes.

What causes hot flashes

Till date, the accurate reasons for hot flashes have not been determined precisely, however, it has been touted that the decline in estrogen that happens at the time of menopause could be the reason and it could play a crucial role in this. The sensation of heat could be produced due to the disorder in thermoregulation, which is linked to the body temperature where it uses various methods to control and regulate the body temperature and is considered as responsible for the sensation of heat.

Major factors that can cause hot flashes

• Hot flashes occur due to the hormonal changes at the time of menopause
• Stressful lifestyle
• Hot pepper, alcohol and other food addictive can cause hot flashes.
• Certain medications
• Body temperature
• Sleeping Pattern

Hot flashes symptoms

The following are the hot flashes symptoms:

• Warmth that spreads over the body and is strongly felt in neck and the head regions
• Occurrence of perspiration or flushing which could commence from 30 seconds to more minutes
• Hot flashes also could be symptoms of premenopause, rare tumors and related medical conditions
• Consumption of alcohol can lead to hot flashes and burning sensation soon after drinking or maybe after some time
• Irritation in stomach and perspiration at short intervals could be the result of spicy foods as they are considered as the stimulants of hot flashes or night sweat.

Picture : Hot flashes

Image source: WebMd.com

Hot flashes remedies

The hot flash is a deficiency of and estrogen can get triggered by variety of stimulants. Typically it gets treated with both, oral and transdermal forms of estrogen. The estrogen replacement medication can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. It can decrease the frequency by 70 percent to 90 percent.  Only the prescribed hot flash remedies should be taken as each person has different medical condition.

Hormone therapy or estrogen replacement therapy can help in hot flash treatment but many women prefer to go for natural route. Even the herbs play an important role as natural remedies for hot flashes:

Natural remedies for hot flashes

• Intake of vitamin E supplements is one of the best natural remedies of hot flash. One can start with 400 IU and then can increase the intake till 800 IU daily. Vegetable oils, wheat germ, whole grains and nuts are the best source for vitamin E.
• Borage, oil of evening primrose, black currants are source of gamma linolenic acid. GLA are natural anti inflammatory.
• Dong Quai (female ginseng) is the most used and reliable herb for menstrual and menopausal problems.
• Relaxation and stress buster exercise can help in reducing the severity of problem.

Herbs for hot flashes

Particular herbs for Hot flash play a very essential role in curing and decreasing the effects of Hot flesh. Some of the major herbs used for hot flesh are Black Choosy (Squawroot), Chaste berry, Black snakeroot, dong quai, unicorn root fennel, sarsaparilla, red clover, wild yam root and Rattle weed. However, one should not use any of these herbs without her doctor’s approval.

Which herbs to be used:

1.  Herbs which are cool for the body, i.e. chickweed, elder and violet;

2.  Herbs which help in nourishing and increasing oxygen usage in liver. Dong quai, Ho Shou, Yellow dock dandelion are some of the herbs for this category.

3.  Herbs like Black Cohosh which is rich in phytosterols.

Hot flashes Treatment

Treatment of Hot flashes can include hormone therapy and other oral medications like clnidine, gabapentin, SSRIs and megestrol. A lot of herbal and natural treatments are also chosen by many. Experience of menopause period and problems can differ from person to person and so are the treatments.  Sometimes it becomes difficult to determine if the cause of the symptom is due to menopause issues or some other.

The natural remedies are often chosen by many but a wrong choice of remedy can result into side effects and thus no remedies should be tried without consulting the doctor.

The most effective and common treatment is estrogen therapy. There are few controversies about the effects and side effects of this therapy but one can take this treatment with the advice of her physician.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are one of the most uncomfortable symptoms that women complain during menopause. Sleep hyperhidrosis or hot flashes at night which is also known as night sweats is excessive sweating at night during sleep. Hot flashes at night are common in women during menopause and this could be stopped, but not cured.

Apart from getting treatment for hot flashes one can try options which can give relief in night sweats. Some of them are:

• Use cotton bed-sheet
• Wear light weight, loose and cotton cloths at night
• Set the low room temperature
• Don’t use warm quilt
• Keep a thermos at the bed side table with ice in it and use it if required at night
• Change the eating habit and avoid eating spicy food at night

References:

http://www.project-aware.org/Managing/Alt/hotflash.shtml

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hot_flashes_and_menopause/page6_em.htm#medical

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/menopausal/facing/hot_flashes.jsp

Also Read:

• How to get rid of and prevent hot flashes :Menopause
• Acupuncture is an alternative for women with hot flashes
• How to know when Menopause starts and ends
• Dangers and side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy

by admin on 28. Aug, 2010 in Women's Health