Hot flashes and night sweats
Hot flashes and night sweats are two of the most common and troublesome symptom of menopause. These are closely related and often go hand in hand. If a woman isn´t expecting hot flashes and night sweats, a sudden severe episode of either can be frightening. It is worthwhile to take the time to read the information about hot flashes and night sweats provided below.
What are hot flashes and night sweats?
 Hot flashes and night sweats are two different yet intense sensations that are quite similar. The main difference is that hot flashes are a daytime occurrence while night sweats occur while a woman is sleeping. Both are sensations of intense heat in the upper part of the body, accompanied by sudden rapid heartbeat, a rising flushing of the chest, neck and face. This is followed by heavy sweating which in the case of night sweats can drench a woman´s sheets. The duration of hot flashes and night sweats varies between thirty seconds and five minutes, with the intensity and frequency varying as well. Within three years before menopause, one out of two women has hot flashes and/or night sweats symptoms and about 75% of women have hot flashes during menopause.
Medical researchers have found that the most frequent areas in the body where hot flashes start are the neck, head, scalp, ears and chest. However, not all women experience hot flashes in the same areas. Also, researchers classified hot flashes as follows:
• Mild hot flashes and night sweats are barely noticeable, rapid, and don't interfere with normal function.
• Moderate hot flashes and night sweats are warmer, noticeable (with obvious perspiration in certain areas), and longer-lasting.
• Severe hot flashes and night sweats are intense enough to cause a reaction, and many women seek immediate relief.
Many factors can interfere with the body heat balance during menopause; however, it is helpful to know them in detail to be aware how to face hot flashes and night sweats. The following articles show and explain the different causes for hot flashes and night sweats.
What causes hot flashes and night sweats?
 The exact causes for hot flashes and night sweats during menopause are still in debate, but it is generally accepted that the main reason for these common symptoms is that the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temperature) kicks into overdrive. The declining level of estrogen hormones, associated with menopause, are responsible for this malfunction of the hypothalamus which leads to a release of chemicals that cause the skin blood vessels to dilate so the heat can be dissipated, causing the hot flashes and night sweats.
Hot flashes and night sweats, along with other vasomotor symptoms such as dizziness and heart palpitations (the term vasomotor describes bodily changes related to the constriction and dilation of blood vessels) decrease in strength and frequency after menopause, but some women may experience them for the rest of their life.
Hot flashes and night sweats can turn into difficult symptoms to face up to if menopausal women don't deal with it appropriately. Please keep on reading the articles below which provides useful information on how to cope with hot flashes and night sweats.
What to do about hot flashes and night sweats?
Hot flashes and night sweats are closely related to decreased levels of estrogen in a woman's body during menopause. Therefore, the most important thing to manage these symptoms is to ensure that a woman is giving her body the support it needs for balanced hormonal levels. The first step to take for controlling hot flashes and night sweats would be to pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. However, because balancing hormonal levels is the most direct way to deal with hot flashes and night sweats, simply a healthy nutrition and exercise program may not be enough nor easy to accomplish.
It seems that the best way to cope with hot flashes and night sweats is to follow a healthy lifestyle and complement this with a hormonal imbalance treatment such as alternative medicine.
Healthy lifestyle: A healthy diet combined with regular exercise will help to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. Although they might not control efficiently the main cause for hot flashes and night sweats, which is hormonal imbalance, the following tips can help a woman reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats.
• Diet that contains protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and grains.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, sugar, spicy foods and hot soups.
• Drink 2 quarts of water each day.
• Support the body with natural remedies.
• Get regular, moderate exercise to reduce stress.
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• Keep cold water at hand.
• Stop smoking.
• Use a mini portable hand fan.
• Lower the thermostat when possible.
• Dress in layers, to peel off in case of hot flashes.
• Avoid turtlenecks. |
Since hot flashes and night sweats are caused by low hormonal levels, a hormone balancing program is the best solution. Although there are several ways to manage hot flashes and night sweats, the best method is to combine therapies such as lifestyle changes and alternative medicine.
Click on one of the links in the article below to learn more about the hot flashes and night sweats treatment that is most desirable.
Which are the best ways to cope with hot flashes and night sweats?
Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating hot flashes and night sweats:
(1)lifestyle changes, (2)alternative approaches and (3)drugs and surgery. The safest way is to start with the least risky approach and go on to the next level only if it is necessary. Click on treatments for hot flashes and night sweats and don't miss these three excellent approaches.
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