Menopause begins somewhere for women
in their 40s to 50s on average. This is a natural process during which a
woman’s ovaries slowly stop producing eggs and releasing them into their uterus
every month. This change disrupts the hormonal shifts that normally came with their
menstrual cycle. Fluctuations in estrogen levels can become more extreme, which
affects the way a woman’s body regulates heat.
Just before, during, and just after
menopause, a woman’s blood vessels will sometimes constrict and then expand
rapidly. These vasomotor spasms start the chain of events that lead to
temperature changes known as hot flashes. A hot flash is a feeling of intense heat, not
caused by external sources. Hot flashes can appear suddenly, or a woman may
feel them coming on. A woman may experience: tingling in their fingers, their heart beating
faster than usual, their
skin feeling warm, suddenly, their face getting red or flushed, and sweating especially in the
upper body. Some women experience a few hot flashes per week, while others may have several an hour. Some hot flashes pass after a few seconds, while a long hot flash may go on for more than 10 minutes. On average, hot flashes last about four minutes. Though some women experience hot flashes into their 60s, the symptoms usually go away after an average of seven years.
Each woman’s triggers for hot flashes may be a little different, but some common ones include: drinking alcohol, consuming products with caffeine, eating spicy foods, being in a hot room, feeling stressed or anxious, wearing tight clothing, smoking, or being exposed to cigarette smoke, or bending over.
Some women are able to manage their hot flashes with some simple tools (quick relief methods) like dressing in layers even on the coldest days so a woman can adjust their clothing to how their feeling, sip ice water at the start of a hot flash, wear cotton night clothes and use cotton bed linens, and keep a cold pack on the bedside table
Some women find certain herbs and essential oils to be helpful reducing hot flashes. They include:
Check with your doctor before taking any of these products. Herbs can interfere with medications and aggravate disorders beyond what is listed here.
Many women are turning to natural products to help with managing hot flashes and night sweats. If a woman takes natural products or supplements, it’s important to mention this to the doctor and pharmacist whenever a woman discusses their health and medications. Some products can interfere with over-the-counter and prescription medications.
The popularity of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with synthetic hormones may be an option for some women whose hot flashes are debilitating and greatly affect the quality of their life. Estrogen supplements level out the amount of estrogen in a woman’s system, reducing the incidence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. Estrogen is usually taken with progestin to reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer. It can be taken by pill, through a vaginal cream or gel, or a patch.
Other medications have been found to help women whose hot flashes and night sweats are difficult to manage. While they weren’t developed directly for this purpose, some women find them effective. Work with your doctor to choose if these medications might be appropriate for you and your situation. Gabapentin and pregabalin are usually given for nerve-mediated pain or seizures will offer relief for some women. Antidepressants venlafaxine (Effexor), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil) have also been shown to be effective for treatment of hot flashes.
Acupuncture may be helpful, without the side effects of medication. One study published in 2011 found that women who had acupuncture had significantly fewer menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, than those who had sham treatments. Sham acupuncture is shallow needling that doesn’t stimulate a true acupuncture point. It’s a way to test if acupuncture is effective or not.
Meditation can also be very successful in helping manage stress levels. Stress is a common hot flash trigger for many women. Taking stress management training in your community might lead to numerous other benefits in your health and quality of life.
Lifestyle choices can make as much of an impact on a woman’s body as any medication or supplement taken. Living a healthy lifestyle can reduce the incidence and severity of hot flashes and help reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Be mindful of the following ways a woman can improve her health: eat a well-balanced diet and control portion size, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and stay away from secondhand smoke.
“I wouldn’t mind these hot flashes so much if they would just burn a
little fat off my thighs and butt in the process.”
(Facebook.com/Incredible)
[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5
Ways to Combat Hot Flashes” by Murali Vinta, MD
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