Avoid a Hot Flash Meltdown
A hot flash is a sudden sensation of intense heat in the upper part or all of the body. The face and neck may become flushed, with red blotches appearing on the chest, back, and arms. This is often followed by profuse sweating and then cold shivering as body temperature readjusts. A hot flash can last a few moments or 30 minutes or longer.
Hot flashes occur sporadically and often start several years before other signs of menopause. They gradually decline in frequency and intensity as you age. Eighty percent of all women with hot flashes have them for two years or less, while a small percentage have them for more than five years.
Hot flashes can happen at any time. They can be as mild as a light blush, or severe enough to wake you from a deep sleep. Some women even develop insomnia. Others have experienced that caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods, and stressful or frightening events can sometimes trigger a hot flash. However, avoiding these triggers will not necessarily prevent all episodes.
Hot flashes appear to be a direct result of decreasing estrogen levels. In response to falling estrogen levels, your glands release higher amounts of other hormones that affect the brain's thermostat, causing body temperatures to fluctuate. A hot flash is your body's way of cooling down. Hormone therapy relieves the discomfort of hot flashes in most cases. Antidepressants (Paxil, Prozac and Effexor) also have been found to help.
Some women claim that vitamin E offers minor relief, although there has never been a study to confirm it. Aside from hormone therapy, which is not for everyone, here are some suggestions for coping with hot flashes:
Try these suggestions:
• Wear fabrics that breathe, such as cotton. Do not wear silk, polyester and other synthetics that tend to trap body heat.
• If you feel a hot flash coming on, drink a glass of cold water.
• If troubled by night sweats, keep a cold facecloth or ice pack by your bed.
• Instead of pantyhose, wear cotton pants or thigh high stockings.
• Decrease your intake of caffeine and alcohol.
• Avoid spicy foods and hot drinks.
• Avoid tobacco.
• Try eating and drinking more soy products.
• Some women claim that taking vitamin E daily helps.
Lose weight, quit smoking to reduce hot flashes
New research conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that women who have excess body fat, as well as those who smoke, have more frequent and more severe episodes of the troubling flashes.
Hot flashes in your late 50s?
Many women expect their hot flashes to be a symptom that lasts just a year or two, but for some women, they can go on for up to a decade. A small percentage of women will have hot flashes well after their periods stop.
Call your doctor if the hot flashes suddenly recur or first appear a year or more after your last period. Hot flashes can be a symptom of thyroid disorder, which is easily treated in most women.
