Hot flashes, also known as hot flushes, are sudden feelings of warmth which are usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. They may also be accompanied by sweating and rapid heartbeat, as well as a red, blushed appearance in the skin.
Hot flashes are extremely common during menopause, affecting up to 80% of women. They occur due to changing hormone levels. As estrogen levels decline leading up to menopause, this disrupts the body's temperature regulatory system in areas of the brain like the hypothalamus. When the hypothalamus senses a small increase in core body heat, it initiates sweating, circulation changes and flushing as part of the body’s normal response to cool itself down. This produces the pooling of blood near the skin and the feeling of heat that is a hot flash.
Some things that may trigger hot flashes include:
Managing hot flashes typically involves lifestyle measures like staying cool, wearing light breathable fabrics, reducing stress, and avoiding triggers. For moderate to severe hot flashes, hormone therapy may be an option, often using low doses of estrogen or medications that influence hormone levels.
The professionals at Hormone Harmony can provide customized natural bioidentical hormone therapy to help relieve hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Their comprehensive evaluations help identify the ideal type, method, and dose of hormone therapy tailored to your unique physiology and needs. I’d recommend contacting Hormone Harmony if you are struggling with managing troublesome hot flashes or other effects of hormone changes during midlife.
Some key takeaways regarding hot flashes:
Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to help further explain this common symptom of menopause.