Headaches and Hot Flashes
Headaches and Hot Flashes

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What are hot flashes?
Sign and symptoms
Risk factors
Hormonal causes
Other causes
Survival Tips
Avoiding Triggers

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hot flashes

Headaches and Hot Flashes

Headaches and Hot Flashes

Depending on the intensity hot flashes can be accompanied by headaches, weakness, dizziness and nausea. Symptoms generated from the hot flashes can come on hard and fast.

headache hot flashes1One of the most common side effects from menopause symptoms and hot flashes are headaches. Headaches can affect daily life and if they become too persistent they can affect one´s overall health.

Read more below, to find out about headaches and hot flashes.

Why do hot flashes happen?

Most women experiencing menopause have mild to moderate hot flashes, while 10 to 15% experience severe symptoms.

During this period of change, the body is adjusting to fluctuating levels of hormones. Hot flashes care caused by the body miscalculating the temperature of the body and then heating the body up to adjust. This can often many times in a day and can cause other stress related symptoms like headaches.

It has also been found that women taking tamoxifen reported having more hot flashes.

Keep reading to learn about the triggers of hot flashes.

Avoid triggers of hot flashes

Although there are some measures you take to help ease the amount and the intensity of the hot flashes, here is a list of common triggers or things that can set a hot flash off,

headache hot flashes2. Smoking.
. spicy food.
. hot food.
. hot tubs.
. saunas.
. hot showers.
. caffeine.
. hot beds.
. alcohol.
. diet pills.
. hot rooms.

It is important to note also, that in respect to headaches, women can experience headaches more readily in this time of their lives.

Read more below to find you how to reduce hot flashes.

Ways to reduce hot flashes

While hot flashes cannot be cured, certain techniques and habits have been known to reduce the amount of hot flashes and decrease the severity of the hot flashes.

Here is a short list of the some of the most common,

. Take a cool shower before bed.
. Dress in layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer.
. Don’t wear wool or synthetics. Cotton, linen, and rayon are good options.
. Open-neck shirts, no turtle-necks
. Keep ice water at hand that you can sip to cool down your insides.
. Lower the temperature. Either use the thermostat or a little fan to keep cool.
. Use cotton sheets, they breathe better than synthetics.
. Get a bigger bed to have distance from your partner.
. Tylenol
. Use your freezer liberally. If you are in a hot flash, open the freezer to cool off.
. Roll down the car window when on the road.

Keep reading to find out about treatments for headaches and hot flashes.

Treatment for headaches and hot flashes

The treatment for headaches with hot flashes, might be as simple as stopping what you are doing, relaxing or taking a nap. The body is going through a difficult time and is demanding a lot upon the body. Making sure the body is not overwhelmed, is the first thing to do.

headache hot flashes3Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet is key in maintaining the general fitness of the body and mind and can prepare oneself for menopause symptoms.

Alternative medicines including aromatherapy, vitamins and supplements have been known to reduce stress and regenerate hormones.

If you are experiencing pain or feel that something is wrong, you should speak with your doctor. Your doctor can help you find a solution for you.

For more information on treatment for headaches and hot flashes, click here.

To learn more about Hot Flashes headaches and hot flashes

Other Related Articles:
Much Ado about Menopausal Hot Flushes
Managing Menopause and Hot Flushes
Help for hot flashes

Sources:
  • Sikon, Andrea and Holly Thacker M.D. "Treatment for Menopausal Hot Flashes". Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. July 2004: 71 (7).
  • "Hot flashes ... in January". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004: 170 (1).
  • Miller, Heather and Rose Maria Li, M.D. "Measuring Hot Flashes: Summary of a National Institutes of Health Workshop." Conference report. Mayo Clinic. June 2004: 79.