Hot flashes - Hormone Optimal Care

What are hot flashes?

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.

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen levels can cause hot flashes. They may start off mild and eventually become more severe or frequent. On average, hot flashes last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. However, some women report hot flashes lasting up to an hour.

What Causes Hot Flashes?

• Hormone changes. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, this fluctuation can trigger hot flashes. Lower estrogen confuse the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that regulates body temperature. As a result, the body may suddenly feel a need to cool down.
• Medical conditions. Sometimes other medical conditions like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, low blood sugar, panic attacks, and carcinoid tumors can trigger hot flash symptoms.
• Medications. Certain medications like antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, heart medications, and smoking cessation products may also cause hot flashes.

Managing Hot Flashes

Lifestyle changes like dressing in light layers, avoiding triggers like spicy food and alcohol, and lowering ambient temperatures can provide relief. Other options include:

• Hormone therapy. Estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progestin may ease hot flashes.
• Alternative medicine. Some women find relief through acupuncture, herbal remedies, or mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation. Hormone Optimal Care offers customized bioidentical hormone therapy and holistic treatments to help women manage menopause symptoms.
• Prescription medications. Low doses of antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may help reduce hot flash frequency. Gabapentin is another option.

In most cases, hot flashes will improve over time without treatment. But if they are severe, disruptive, or not related to menopause, consult a doctor to identify any underlying causes and find the right management approach.

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