Do you experience flushed skin, sweating, and a brief sensation of heat or warmth throughout the body? If yes, you’re experiencing hot flashes. It is a common sign of menopause, a state when the menstrual cycle stops. While this sign is common, you can reduce its effects by making changes in your lifestyle or getting treatment. Learneverything about hot flashes at menopause through these FAQs (frequently asked questions) and tips to manage them in this article. Visit Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center and consult with the best Women’s health specialist in New York.
5 FAQs on hot flashes at menopause
These FAQs will tell you what you should know about hot flashes at menopause.
- What are hot flashes, and what do they feel like?
Ans. A hot flash is a symptom of menopause that feels like a sudden flare of intense heat, sweating, and flushed skin. It creates an uncomfortable vasomotor (makes your blood vessels larger or smaller) condition. The reason for hot flashes is not completely understood. However, experts believe hormonal changes cause it. Hot flashes can be different for everyone. Some people experience mild ones, while others have severe hot flashes that disrupt their lives.
It generally feels like a brief sensation of heat or warmth throughout the body. You may also experience symptoms such as:
- Flushed skin (skin that gets red or discolored).
- Sweating.
- Cool, damp skin.
- Chills.
- Heart palpitations or a faster heartbeat.
The severity and the length of hot flashes can also vary. If it happens at night, it is called night sweats. While they are common, you can use different ways to manage them and improve your quality of life. Talk with your doctor to discuss ways that help you manage hot flashes.
- How long does a hot flash last, and how often does it happen?
Ans. A normal hot flash can last anywhere between 1 to 5 minutes. However, it varies from person to person. Generally, a person can experience more than 10 hot flashes per day.
- When will you start experiencing hot flashes, and what triggers them?
Ans. Generally, hot flashes are a symptom of menopause, so they start as soon as your periods start skipping or you start having irregular menstrual cycles. On average, menopause occurs in the late 40s to early 50s. How long these hot flashes persist also varies. For some, these hot flashes last for a few months, while for others, they can last for years.
Several factors can trigger a hot flash, including:
- Hot weather or warm environments.
- Feeling overheated, especially during exercise or wearing heavy clothes.
- Drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
- Eating spicy foods.
- Dealing with stress.
- Drinking hot beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
- Taking hot showers or baths.
- Smoking cigarettes.
Avoiding triggers can help you manage how often you get hot flashes.
- When should you visit your doctor for hot flashes?
Ans. You should visit your doctor for hot flashes when they are not manageable and start interfering with your daily life. Your doctor will discuss what treatment option is good for you to lower/manage your symptoms.
- What treatment options are available for hot flashes?
Ans. While hot flashes are an inevitable symptom of menopause, you can discuss with your doctor what treatment options can help to improve your hot flashes. Generally, two categories of treatment options are available for hot flashes:
- Prescription medications (include Hormone therapies).
- Over the counter (nonprescription) therapies (including medications) are used to treat other conditions like depression, anxiety, sleep problems, or overactive bladder, but also help to manage hot flashes symptoms.
Some prescription medications are off label to treat hot flashes. These medications are known as “off-label,” which means it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hot flashes, but they can be safe and effective treatment options. Other than that, lifestyle changes can also help to manage hot flashes. You must discuss with the doctor what treatment option is good for you based on the pros and cons. As they are aware of your medical history, they’ll recommend the best treatment option that is safe to take with other medications or your medical conditions.
7 Tips for managing hot flashes
Before considering medication, you should try to make changes in your lifestyle. For most people, lifestyle changes are enough to manage hot flashes. Here are some tips that help you manage hot flashes, including:
- Dress in layers that can be removed when you notice a hot flash.
- Carry a portable fan to cool down your body when a hot flash strikes.
- Don’t consume spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, as it makes menopausal symptoms worse.
- If you smoke, you should quit because it makes hot flashes worse, along with your overall health.
- Try to maintain a healthy weight because being overweight and obese may increase the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
- If hot flashes occur at night, lower the temperature of your bedroom by using light sheets, drinking small amounts of cold water before bed, or adjusting the speed of your fan.
- Learn to use different stress relieving techniques like yoga, deep breathing, meditation, etc., to reduce your stress, which helps to manage hot flashes.
Hot flashes are very common during perimenopause and menopause. The good thing is with lifestyle changes or medications, you can easily manage hot flashes and improve your quality of life. Try the above-mentioned tips to manage hot flashes before considering medication from the doctor because, in most cases, hot flashes are manageable with lifestyle changes. If your symptoms don’t improve, see your doctor to know what medication is good for you to manage your hot flashes.
If you need help with hot flashes, visit our gynecology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!! Log on to www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment. At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/gynecology/
