Much Ado about Menopausal Hot Flushes

Menopausal hot flushes, a classic symptom of menopause, are believed to affect as much as 85% of American women when they reach this transition. While menopausal hot flushes can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even embarrassing for these women, they are by no means a life sentence. Women have many options for combating hot flushes so that they don't disrupt a woman's life. Read below to learn more about hot flushes and the strategies many women use to manage them.

About Menopausal Hot Flushes

Menopausal hot flushes are characterized by an intense flooding of heat that usually Much Ado about Menopausal Hot Flushes1 dissipates within seconds. Common symptoms include:

• Flushed skin, especially the head an neck.
• Sudden, fever-like heat.
• Profuse sweating.
• Quickened heart rate.
• Irregular heart rate.
• Chills.
• Mild insomnia.

Of course, each woman experiences menopausal hot flushes differently, but most report at least one of the symptoms mentioned above.

Menopausal hot flushes are caused by the slew of hormonal changes that descend upon a woman's body as she exits her reproductive years. More specifically, dips in the hormone estrogen can cause the hypothalamus region of the brain -the region responsible for regulating body temperature -to act erratically, causing brief spikes in temperature.

Combating Menopausal Hot Flushes

There are a variety of simple things women can do to combat uncomfortable hot flushes and regain control of their lives. These well-tested strategies can mean the difference between a day fraught with frustration and discomfort and one that is nothing but breezy.

Cool Clothing
Women should stick to clothing made of natural, breathable materials -such as cotton, linen, and silk -in order to help them stay as cool as possible should menopausal hot flushed make an appearance.

Open Atmosphere
If a woman is in her own home, an easy way to help stave off and mitigate menopausal hot flushes is to keep the room open and cool by cracking a window or turning on a fan. Much Ado about Menopausal Hot Flushes2 During the frigid winter months, when central heating rules the day, carrying a personal fan can be equally as effective.

Refreshing Beverages
Although nobody needs an excuse to enjoy a cool glass of something, keeping the body hydrated with chilled drinks can help women combat the effects of and help prevent hot flushes.

More Information on Menopausal Hot Flushes

Women can use these strategies or develop their own to fit their unique lifestyles. But, sometimes these strategies are not enough and women may need to seek slightly more powerful measures to manage menopausal hot flushes. The following types of treatments have been shown to greatly assist women:

• Lifestyle changes, like those mentioned above.
• Alternative medicines, like those made from herbs.
• Prescription drugs, like those used in hormone replacement therapies.

Please explore these links and discuss the available options with a trusted doctor before making a decision about treatment for hot flushes.

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