Hot flashes, also known as hot flushes, are sudden feelings of warmth that spread across the body and face. They can cause sweating and reddening of the skin. Hot flashes are a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause, which mark the transition period when a woman's menstrual cycles become irregular as her body makes less estrogen.
What causes hot flashes?
Hot flashes are caused by decreasing estrogen levels. Estrogen helps regulate body temperature, and drops in estrogen can disrupt this process, causing hot flashes. Other factors like stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and warm environments can also trigger hot flashes.
Hot flash symptoms
The main symptom is feeling unusually warm in the upper body, frequently spreading to the neck and face. Other common hot flash symptoms include:
A hot flash can last from 30 seconds to several minutes. Most women have hot flashes for 1-2 years, but some women experience them for a decade or more.
Managing hot flashes
Lifestyle changes may provide some relief:
If lifestyle changes don't help ease symptoms, talk to your doctor about treatment options like:
The knowledgeable and caring physicians at Vitality Hormone Center specialize in helping women address hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Contact us today to discuss a personalized treatment plan to get your hot flashes under control.
I hope this overview on hot flashes was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.