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Reasons for hot flashes
Hot flashes and menopause usually go hand-in-hand, with hot flashes being one of the most common menopause symptoms. Around 75% of women will suffer from hot flashes during the menopausal transition. However, despite their prevalence, many women do not understand the reasons for hot flashes and how best to deal with them. This makes a sudden episode of hot flashes both frightening and confusing. The information below is intended to explain the reasons for hot flashes and to give advice about how to treat the reasons for hot flashes effectively.
What are hot flashes?
Hot flashes can begin before menopause and continue long after menopause has ended. There are various reasons for hot flashes and hot flashes usually involve a range of symptoms, all of which can be very uncomfortable for women. These include:
 • A feeling of intense heat in the upper body
• Reddening of the skin (flushing)
• Sudden, rapid heartbeat
• Heavy sweating
• Chills and shivering
Hot flashes vary in intensity and duration, though they generally last between thirty seconds and five minutes. It is normally the case that the faster that a woman goes through the transition from regular menstrual periods to no periods, the more significant her hot flashes will be.
It is important for women to understand the reasons for hot flashes in order to effectively control them. Keep reading to learn more about the different reasons for hot flashes.
What are the reasons for hot flashes?
 It is generally accepted that fluctuating levels of estrogen caused by menopause and other hormonal changes that result from normal aging are the main reasons for hot flashes. Estrogen withdrawal in particular may be the primary reason for hot flashes. Using this theory, the withdrawal of estrogen during menopause causes the hypothalamus (the area of the brain that controls body temperature) to produce more norepinephrine and serotonin.
These neurotransmitters are responsible for setting the point at which heat loss mechanisms are activated in the body. When more of these chemicals are produced, heat loss mechanisms are more easily triggered by subtle changes in core body temperature, thus being one of the main reasons for hot flashes.
The reasons for hot flashes may become very problematic if menopausal women don't deal with them in the best way. Please keep reading to learn more about how to cope with the reasons for hot flashes.
Dealing with the reasons for hot flashes
There are various reasons for hot flashes and many are easy to treat. The first step for alleviating hot flashes is simply to have a healthy body which can be accomplished by following a healthy diet and a basic exercise program. These tips can help deal with the reasons for hot flashes:
 • Eating more protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and grains
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, sugar, spicy foods and hot
soups
• Drinking two liters of water each day
• Supporting the body with natural remedies
• Getting regular, moderate exercise to reduce stress
• Keeping cold water at hand
• Stopping smoking
• Using a mini portable fan
• Lowering the thermostat when possible
• Dressing in layers, to peel off in case of hot flashes.
• Avoiding turtlenecks
However, because balancing hormone levels is the way to deal with the reasons for hot flashes, it is advisable to complement a healthy lifestyle with a hormonal imbalance treatment such as alternative medicine.
Click on one of the links in the article below to learn more about the hot flashes treatment that is most effective.
SOURCES:
• JAMA - Internal Medicine, 295: 2057 - 2071.
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