Does this sound familiar?
Lucy sat in a work meeting and suddenly felt heat roll over her body. She could feel the redness on her face and sweat started to pool in all the wrong places. She wondered if the air conditioner had stopped working. Looking around the room, as she fanned her face, no one else was reacting. What was wrong with her? How embarrassing!
Or how about this?
Rebecca woke up at 1:00 am in a pool of sweat. Throwing off the covers, she saw puddles leaking through the sheets. Rebecca felt sticky and gross. It was a cool night, and she slept with a fan on her face, but the heat still radiated off her body. How was this possible?
If either of these scenarios sounds familiar, you may be experiencing hot flashes or night sweats.
Over the years, hot flashes have become synonymous with menopause, but what is really going on?
Is It Hot in Here?
An estimated 80% of women experience hot flashes that can last an average of seven to ten years during perimenopause and menopause. Women usually enter perimenopause between the ages of 45-55, and the average age at the onset of menopause is 52 when a woman has not had a period for exactly one year.
Hot flashes and night sweats, also known as vasomotor symptoms, are a form of temperature dysfunction experienced as a result of changes in sex hormones, specifically estrogen. During perimenopause and menopause, as estrogen levels decrease, the body compensates by releasing higher levels of other hormones that impact the internal thermostat. These hormone changes result in the vasomotor symptoms that plague women. Each woman’s experience is different. Some have none or few hot flashes, but 1 in 3 women report 10 or more per day!
In addition to a sensation of heat throughout the chest, neck, and face, you may also experience:
- Flushed and red, blotchy skin.
- Heart palpitations or a faster-than-normal heartbeat.
- Sweating, usually in the upper body.
- A feeling of anxiety.
- Chills as the hot flash ebbs.
- Cool and damp (clammy) skin.
While these symptoms are not life-threatening, they can disrupt the quality of life. You may experience difficulty sleeping, leading to decreased energy levels and mood changes. Other symptoms include brain fog, lack of focus, confusion, and forgetfulness.
You may wonder, “Do I have to live with this for 10 years?”
The simple answer is most likely, No!
How To Beat The Heat From Hot Flashes
If hot flashes are negatively impacting your life there are probably other issues related to estrogen deficiency also occurring in your body. There are a variety of treatments available to treat vasomotor symptoms however estrogen replacement therapy is the most effective and also addresses a variety of other perimenopausal and menopausal conditions.
After a thorough physical, including blood tests and a discussion about your medical history, your medical provider can determine the best treatment for your symptoms.
You may have to advocate for yourself, especially if your provider is dismissive of your symptoms or says the blood tests are in the “normal” range. It is imperative that you find a provider or specialist that aligns with your views on treating hot flashes, perimenopause, and menopause as well as focuses on your quality of life. Your medical provider must understand the importance of hormone replacement therapy or HRT in the prevention of numerous diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and osteoporosis, as these diseases can impact not only your quality of life but also your life span. HRT aims to help you live a better, longer life.
While you are working with your medical provider or specialist, there are non-medical approaches to address hot flashes and night sweats, including:
- Dress in layers that are easy to remove and put on.
- Avoid foods known to trigger hot flashes, like spicy food, alcohol, and hot beverages.
- Drink a glass of cool water or juice at the onset of the hot flash.
- Reduce stress levels.
- Keep cool water near your bed at night.
- Use cotton sheets and clothing at night to allow the skin to breathe.
In addition to these steps, you may consider keeping a diary of the triggers of your vasomotor symptoms.
It is important to remember that there are treatments, including hormone replacement therapy, that can help ease the hot flashes and return your quality of life.
Are you ready to treat your hot flashes? Start a free self-assessment with Perfect Balance Health.
Written by Anna Hartman, AKH Editing and Writing
