What Are Hot Flashes?

Have you ever heard women complaining of sweating; even in an air-conditioned room? They are most likely experiencing hot flashes. What are” hot flashes”? Hot flashes are short, sudden intense feelings of warmth around your upper body that is not externally caused. It is commonly linked to perimenopause through post menopause.

How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?

Most women want to know what to expect as the feeling and how long hot flashes last. Hot flashes may last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Yikes! For some, it can take even longer. It can be unpleasant, stressful, and maybe annoying, especially for the unlucky women who experience hot flashes for years, according to ongoing studies. The frequency and duration of hot flashes vary from woman to woman. It follows a certain pattern for some women; more predictable. But for most, it is varied. Hot flashes can happen several times a day, many times an hour, or less than once a week. They are difficult to document or track.

Hot Flashes Symptoms

It’s that feeling, a sudden rush of heat around your upper body: arms, chest, face, and neck. Then the deep breathing, skin flushing, fast heart rate, and a sweaty shirt. For many a case of the chills sometimes follows. Because blood vessels in the upper body expand, the increased blood flow causes flushing — blotchy patches on the skin. Somehow, it causes anxiety and stress, especially when in public.

Hot flashes can also be accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the head, dizziness, or weakness. When occurring at night, hot flashes may cause insomnia that can result in irritability and poor concentration during the day.

What Causes Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes is a common pre-menopausal symptom that often, slowly disappears as you enter the menopausal stage. But what causes hot flashes? First there is a drop in the estrogen hormone levels, affecting the hypothalamus—an area in the brain which controls body temperature. It seems to sense that the body is too hot when it’s not, and tells the body to let out excess heat, thus sweating. In most cases, hot flashes are related to menopause if you’re about 50 years old or if you undergo a physical exam, the serum levels of your Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FHS) are measured, which are high during the menopausal stage. As a side note, the reason for high FSH is because your body is trying harder and hard to “stimulate a follicle” thus the name of the hormone.

When follicle stimulating hormone is normal but estrogen is high, this is another issue. (Read about Chrysin Max to help remove excess estrogen for women trying to conceive but not ovulating.)

What Can Cause Hot Flashes Other than Menopause?

Hot flashes and night sweats can also occur for other reasons. They could be from health conditions, your medication, or some lifestyle factors. So what can cause hot flashes other than menopause?

1. Your Diet and Weight

Sensitivity to spicy foods, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, or MSG may have a low threshold, triggering hot flashes in some women. Whether or not they are on the menopausal stage, overweight and obese women are more prone to hot flashes.

2. The Medication You are Taking

Hot flashes could be one side effect of medication prescribed for pain, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, or hormonal conditions in the form of steroids and opioids could be the culprits. Talk to your doctor about using something other than dangerous prescriptions. CBD Oil with Terpenes may be helpful; an all-in-one solution to many of the agonizing symptoms of menopause.

3. You’re Pregnant

Hormonal changes accompanying the first and second trimesters of pregnancy may cause hot flashes. Since giving birth allows the body’s hormonal balance to readjust, some new mothers may continue to experience hot flashes.

4. You’re Experiencing Negative Stress

Stress hormones can trigger hot flashes, rapid heart rate, and even profuse sweating. Research shows that this reaction seems to be more common in women. Managing stress is essential since high stress over long periods of time robs the body of precious, natural estrogen. Long-term stress is believed to negatively impact the functions of the adrenal glands. Consider nourishing your adrenal gland with Adrenal Care.

5. Infections Causing Fever

Fever caused by any infection can trigger hot flash symptoms as the body’s temperature rises to fight the infection.

6. Hyperthyroidism

According to a thyroid foundation, too much thyroid hormone can cause excessive sweating. However, you need to know whether it is not also caused by menopause. Consider a ZRT saliva home hormone test if you suspect your hormones are not as they should be.

7. Abnormal Heart Function

Heart experts say abnormal heart function can be linked to hot flash symptoms due to the abnormal changes in the heart’s pumping action. Check with your doctor, immediately, if you suspect this to be the reason.

8. Cancer and Cancer Treatment

Hot flash symptoms are also manifested in breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, or carcinoid syndrome (a condition in which a neuroendocrine tumor releases chemicals into the body.) Cancer treatment can also cause hot flashes. Chemotherapy and tamoxifen are common breast cancer treatments.

9. Tuberculosis

Though it is the least likely, we need to include it on the list. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection mainly affecting the lungs. Because it makes you cough so persistently, it can also trigger hot flashes and night sweats. The fever causes you to sweat more as your body tries to cool down.

How to Stop Hot Flashes Fast!

The following tips can help you manage hot flash symptoms from mild to moderate.

• Log each hot flash episode to help you identify patterns and triggers.
• Avoid foods that may trigger hot flashes such as spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine. Add soy to your diet to help prevent dryness.
• Estriol Oil has been very helpful when it comes to vaginal dryness and hot flashes as well as Natural Estrogen Cream. Both are considered safe alternatives to HRT since they both leave the body within the day; keeping buildup from happening.
• BiEstro Cream is a safe and natural estrogen cream that helps with hot flashes is a combination (80/20% – estriol/estradiol ) when everything else fails and you absolutely need relief but don’t want prescription HRT.
• Sip cool water once in a while.
• Dress in loose outfits.
• Use a fan in your home or workplace.
• Engage yourself in fun exercises to lessen the uncomfortable feeling hot flashes bring.
• Take slow, deep breaths once a hot flash starts.
• If you’re smoking, stop it!
• Visit your doctor to talk about BHRT – BioIdentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Menopause Hormone Therapy and safe herbal supplements.

Hot flashes are something you may have to accept as part of your life once you almost reach the menopausal stage. Once you do, you’re able to welcome it, at the same time, manage it. You can do yourself a favor by paying attention to your body and keeping your doctor informed, With this, you can be assured of a better outlook in life, co-existing with hot flash symptoms and not allowing them to interfere with all that is good in your life.