How to avoid hot flashes
How to avoid hot flashes

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How to avoid hot flashes

How to avoid hot flashes

Menopause has set in, and you're madly searching to decipher how to alleviate all the signs and symptoms that come with it. Whilst it isn't the same experience for every woman, there are many universal things you can do to avoid hot flashes.

Alternatively called hot flushes, this is a problem for as many as three-quarters of America's women. But, don't fret - hot flashes are avoidable, controllable and stoppable. By understanding what a hot flash is you can find simple, yet effective, ways of reducing the possibility of suffering from this menopausal problem.

One option is to move to Asia.

In Japan they don't even have a word for hot flashes, and that's not because they're trying to bury the problem, but because it's so rare in their culture. Here are some recommendations on how to avoid hot flashes.

Easy steps to avoid hot flashes

Check your breathing

Maintaining a good breathing rhythm helps to keep the body balanced. Heavy breathing doesn't help with hot flashes, so especially if you feel an episode coming on then breathe slower and deeper. Expand your ribcage to help relieve stress and regulate body temperature.

Keep cool

Room temperature and the clothes you wear are probably more important than you think. By ensuring that the air conditioning is on or you have a fan in every room, you are more likely to keep a controlled temperature. Forget trips to the hot tub and sauna and always look for possible cool spots on a warm day. Precaution breathes success in this instance.

Alongside your environment, you also need to be looking at your clothes. Wearing layers is the best idea for dressing with hot flashes in mind. Light tank tops and blouses are your friend. Similarly, sleeping with layers can stop hot flashes’ nasty nocturnal cousin of night sweats which are, in many cases, even more disturbing to your life.

Change your diet

A healthy body is important during menopause, and eating the right foods can go a long way to helping you avoid hot flashes. Steer clear of spicy foods unless you enjoy a gamble and try to eat smaller and frequent meals, rather than big meals, during the day.

The removal of spicy foods alongside caffeine, acidic foods and dairy products is known for helping menopausal women to avoid hot flashes. Herbal supplements can also be taken to rebalance hormone levels in the body.

Be hydrated

The body works best when it is fully hydrated, and to avoid hot flashes getting the right amount of fluid in your body is even more important. Regulating your body temperature keeps you balanced, and it is recommended that you drink around eight glasses of water a day. Always keep a glass handy.

Review your lifestyle

There are many things in life that provoke or emphasis menopausal signs and symptoms, and some say that the best way to avoid hot flashes is through lifestyle changes. Put your cigarettes away! Change beer for wine and lessen the amount! Exercise daily! These three things would greatly improve your body's chances of avoiding hot flashes.

More information about hot flashes

As with most menopause symptoms, lifestyle changes, diet and hydration is crucial to naturally avoiding hot flashes. They are caused by a hormonal fluctuation that confuses the hypothalamus in your brain and makes your body temperature rocket. There are other things that can help though, including: herbal supplements and hormone therapy. Click on the following link for more information about hot flashes treatments.

To learn more about Hot Flashes avoid hot flashes

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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.