Hot Flashes and Chills

Hot flashes affect 75% of women who go through menopause. Hot flashes can be one of the most common signs of menopause and also one of the most bothersome.

While some women get hot flashes rarely and are not affected heavily, for other women, hot flashes and the resulting side effects can have a greater impact on daily life.

Keep reading below to learn about hot flashes and chills.

Symptoms of hot flashes/chills

A hot flash is a brief moment when the temperature of the body suddenly rises and causes sweating, nausea, headaches and sometimes chills.

Doctors still don´t know the cause of hot flashes but think it has something to do with hormone changes and their effect upon the body´s ability to register the heat inside the body.

The red blood then dilate to cool down the body and a woman can go through excessive sweating as the body tries to cool itself, sometimes chills can result.

Read more below on what you can do to prevent hot flashes and chills,

What can I do?

There are a few ways that can help you reduce the frequency and the strength of a hot flash and chill.

Here is a list of the most basic remedies,

• Exercise daily – Walking, swimming, dancing, and bicycling.
• Stay cool – Use fans during the day and wear light layers of clothes with natural fibers such as cotton.
• Slow abdominal breathing – Practice deep breathing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening and at the onset of hot flashes.
• Cold pillows - Add more comfort to sleep at night.

Keep reading to find out the things that can make hot flashes and chills worse,

What should I not do?

The following is a list of the most common substances which are known to make hot flashes worse:

• Cigarette smoke.
• Tight/synthetic clothing.
• Hot showers or baths.
• Stress.
• Caffeine.
• Alcohol.
• Spicy foods.
• Heat.

Keep reading to find out treatments for hot flashes and chills.

Treatment for Hot Flashes and Chills

As mentioned above, exercise and a healthy diet can greatly improve your body´s ability to respond to the changing environment.

Due to the likelihood that hot flashes and chills are brought on by fluctuations in hormone levels, many alternative medicines such as aroma therapy and supplements have been known to help reduce the effects of hot flashes.

There a few treatments such as birth control pills which have been known to both worsen and better hot flashes. Also, Hormone replacement therapy, which is becoming more unpopular because of the possible health risks, has been proven to reduce hot flashes and chills.

If you are experiencing hot flashes and chills and have not spoken to your doctor already, now is a good time to do so. Your medical practitioner can explain and help you find the right solution.

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

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