Hot flashes and night sweats
 Hot flashes and night sweats are two of the most frequent and disruptive menopausal symptoms. They are closely related and often go hand in hand, which can greatly impact on a woman´s daily life. If a woman isn´t expecting hot flashes and night sweats, and doesn´t know how best to deal with them then a sudden episode of either or both can be very frightening. It is therefore worthwhile taking the time to read the following information about hot flashes and night sweats to better inform yourself about hot flashes and night sweats.
What are hot flashes and night sweats?
 The main difference between hot flashes and night sweats is that hot flashes occur during the day and night sweats happen while a woman is sleeping. Both hot flashes and night sweats are sensations of intense heat in the upper part of the body, accompanied by a quickened heartbeat and a reddening of the chest, neck, and face. This is followed by heavy sweating which, in the case of night sweats, can saturate a woman´s bed sheets. The duration of hot flashes and night sweats varies between thirty seconds and five minutes, with the intensity and frequency varying as well. In the three years leading up to menopause, half of women will experience hot flashes and/or night sweats and about 75% of women will suffer from hot flashes during the menopausal transition.
Common symptoms of night sweats:
• Damp bedding
• A feeling of being too hot or cold
• Wet bedclothes
• Chills
• Interrupted sleep
Many factors can interfere with body heat balance during menopause but it useful to know these factors in greater detail to understand how best to deal with hot flashes and night sweats should they occur. Keep reading to learn about the different causes for hot flashes and night sweats.
What causes hot flashes and night sweats?
 The precise cause of hot flashes and night sweats during menopause is uncertain, but it is generally accepted that the main trigger for hot flashes and night sweats is when the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temperature) goes into overdrive. Decreasing levels of estrogen hormones related to menopause are responsible for prompting the hypothalamus to work overtime, which leads to a release of chemicals that cause skin blood vessels to dilate so that heat can be emitted, resulting in hot flashes and night sweats.
Common symptoms of hot flashes::
• A feeling of intense heat in the upper body
• Reddening of the skin (flushing)
• Sudden, rapid heartbeat
• Heavy sweating
• Chills and shivering
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 hot flashes and night sweats for the rest of their life.
Click on one of the links in the article below to learn more about the hot flashes and night sweats treatment that is best for you.
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