Hot flashes in post-menopause

Menopause is a buzz word amongst all women who are over 30. It is a term to describe when your menstrual periods stop. It is important, however, to remember that there are three stages of menopause. These are: perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Whilst much of the talk is about the middle part, it is important to factor in what happens before and after.

Hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, mood swings and fatigue are the six most talked about menopausal symptoms. But, did you know that they can affect you post-menopause? Although your hormones aren't fluctuating at quite the same level, hot flashes are known to affect people in post-menopause. Find out more about post-menopausal hot flashes.

All you need to know about post-menopausal hot flashes

Why they happen

Going 12 months without a period means that menopause has been reached, pro-menopause begins following this and lasts for the rest of your life. Hot flashes tend to taper off following menopause; however, some struggle with them for the rest of their life. There is no single definition that can describe why you have hot flashes post-menopause. Hormone levels are usually balanced and this means that it can often be down to your lifestyle.

What are the types

Hot flashes, and many other signs and symptoms of the menopausal process, change in both severity and duration from woman to woman. This means that although the problem doesn't differ as such, it can change from time to time.

How to recognize them

Common symptoms of hot flashes are, by and large, the same as those you see during menopause. Symptoms include: flushing, change in heartbeat (namely rapid and sudden), chills, sweating and an intense heat in the body.

What's the solution

For mild to moderate cases, lifestyle changes should be enough. For severe cases then estrogen therapy is worth looking at. Always check with your doctor if you have any immediate concerns, but by adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, exercising and reducing stress you should go a long way to deal with any problems.

Will you have them forever

By looking after yourself with lifestyle changes, you should find that your body is better prepared to deal with any problem that life should throw at you. It is possible that they can last forever. If you can't seem to reduce them then ask your doctor for more advice.