Hot flashes during menopause

Hot flashes are one the most common and troublesome symptoms of menopause, affecting up to half of all women. If a woman hasn't been informed about hot flashes, a sudden severe episode can be frightening; so it is important for the public to remain informed in the event of sudden hot flashes during menopause.

What are hot flashes during menopause?

Hot flashes during menopause are experienced as intense heat in the upper part of the body, accompanied by sudden rapid heartbeat, a rising flushing of the chest, neck and face. These sensations are often followed by heavy sweating. The duration of hot flashes during menopause varies between thirty seconds and five minutes. The intensity and frequency of hot flashes during menopause varies greatly from woman to woman, but it is believed, that as faster a woman goes through the transition from regular menstrual periods to no periods, the more significant her hot flashes will be. Within three years before menopause, one out of two women has hot flashes symptoms and about 75% of women have hot flashes during menopause.

Researchers have classified hot flashes according to the following categories:

• Mild hot flashes are barely noticeable, rapid, and don't interfere with normal function.
• Moderate hot flashesare warmer, noticeable (with obvious perspiration in certain
areas), and longer lasting.
• Severe hot flashesare intensely hot and make women quickly stop what they are doing, and seek a way of cooling down.

Many factors can interfere with the body heat balance during menopause. The following articles show and explain the different causes for hot flashes.

What causes hot flashes during menopause?

The exact causes for hot flashes during menopause are still being researched, but it is generally accepted that the main reason for this phenomenon is that the hypothalamus (the area of the brain that regulates body temperature) starts overproducing heat. The declining level of estrogen hormones, associated with menopause, are responsible for this malfunction of the hypothalamus, which detects an increased body temperature and releases chemicals that cause the skin blood vessels to dilate so the heat can be released. This release of heat is what leads to hot flashes.

Hot flashes and 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 during menopause can turn into a difficult symptom to deal with if women don't find an appropriate method of coping. Please keep on reading the information below, which provides useful information on how to cope with hot flashes.

What to do about hot flashes during menopause?

Hot flashes are closely related to decreased levels of estrogen in a woman's body during menopause. A good first step is to ensure that you are giving your body the support necessary to maintain balanced hormonal levels. This can be accomplished by following a nutritious diet and some kind of exercise program. Nonetheless, because balancing hormonal levels is the best way to deal with hot flashes, it is good to bear in mind that just a healthy nutrition and exercise program maybe is not enough nor easy to accomplish.

It follows that the best way to cope with hot flashes is to follow a healthy lifestyle and complement this with a hormonal imbalance treatment such as alternative medicine.

Healthy lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and exercise program, will alleviate hot flashes. Although they might not control efficiently the main cause for hot flashes, which is the hormonal imbalance, the following tips can help you reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes.

• 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.

• 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 are caused by low hormonal levels, a hormone balancing program is the best solution. Although there are several ways to manage hot flashes, the best way is by combining therapies such as "lifestyle approaches" and alternative medicine.

To learn more about the best hot flashes treatment, click on one of the links in the article below.

Which are the best ways to cope with hot flashes during menopause?
Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating hot flashes during menopause: (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 during menopause and don't miss these three excellent approaches.