Five tips to help your mom's menopausal hot flashes

Remember not so long ago you were feeling nervous about telling your mother you started your period? Well, now your mom tells you she is losing hers. It might be hard, but try to return the sensitivity she showed you during puberty by helping her through menopause.

Three out of four women report hot flashes during one or more of the stages of menopause. This sudden onset of heat and increased heart beat is a result of a hormonal imbalance. Hot flashes during menopause can be extremely uncomfortable, and even alarming, so read these tips below to show your mother you care about her health.

Be Nice to Her

The number one inducer of a hot flash is stress. You know exactly how to press her buttons. Do her a favor, and don't.

Cook her Dinner

Not only will this lessen her workload and therefore her stress level, but you have a chance to control what goes into her body. Spicy, hot, and heavy foods are a no-no. Instead, cook like it's the hottest day of summer and incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables and other foods high in vitamins B and E.

Walk your Mom

Of course she's not a dog, but sometimes she might need some motivation to exercise. It's also beneficial for you to form healthy habits at a young age to lessen complications later on.

Tell her she's a natural beauty

First of all, she looks like you, so of course it's true! But, if your mom feels confident, she might be more likely to quit the sweat inducing hair dryer and curling iron routine, and opt for the more hot flash-friendly hairstyle that is air or towel dried hair.

Go shopping with her

Your agenda should be purely focused on helping your mother find light, airy clothes she can layer or remove according to her body temperature. However, it never hurts to be at the mall with mom in a good mood and dad's credit card in tow.

Recommendations about hot flashes

Hot flashes are a result of estrogen withdrawal; the key is to find a balance. The least invasive treatments are lifestyle changes and alternative medicines. However, some women may not experience relief from these alone, and may need to talk with their doctor about other treatments including hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Follow this link for more information about alternative treatments for hot flashes.

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