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What Causes Hot Flashes During Menopause?
Question: Hi....I have been having these episodes where all of a sudden I feel my face starting to get hot and then it seems to move down my body. Its like my body is on fire or maybe pins...It last for about a minute and then everything seems normal again. I am not dizzy.
Let me give you a little back ground that may help. 2 years ago I fell at my job and hit my head extremely hard. Taken to hospital...had a concussion. Stayed in hospital for approximately 10 days. I have seem to be back to normal but I have a small hard knot on the side of my head. I bumped my head on my desk at work, but at the time there was no knot and it wasn't sore. I found the knot when I was washing my hair about 3 weeks ago. This may not have anything to do with these episodes I'm Having and the know seems to be diminishing.. I am 54 years old and I am also going through Menopause. :( Any ideas would certainly be appreciated. Sincerely, XXXX
Let me give you a little back ground that may help. 2 years ago I fell at my job and hit my head extremely hard. Taken to hospital...had a concussion. Stayed in hospital for approximately 10 days. I have seem to be back to normal but I have a small hard knot on the side of my head. I bumped my head on my desk at work, but at the time there was no knot and it wasn't sore. I found the knot when I was washing my hair about 3 weeks ago. This may not have anything to do with these episodes I'm Having and the know seems to be diminishing.. I am 54 years old and I am also going through Menopause. :( Any ideas would certainly be appreciated. Sincerely, XXXX
Brief Answer:
Hot Flashes Of Menopause
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
The answer lies in the question. These are Hot flashes and are very common menopausal symptoms. Trauma history is least likely a correlation here and 2 years gap makes it less likely further.
Hot flashes vary among women going through menopause. Some women have hot flashes for a very short time during menopause. Other women may have hot flashes for life. Generally, hot flashes are less severe as time passes.
You probably can't avoid hot flashes during menopause, but there are things that may bring them on more often or cause them to be more severe. To prevent hot flashes, avoid these triggers:
Stress
Caffeine
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Tight clothing
Heat
Cigarette smoke
Other things you can do to keep hot flashes at bay include:
Stay cool. Keep your bedroom cool at night. Use fans during the day. Wear light layers of clothes with natural fibers such as cotton.
Try deep, slow abdominal breathing (six to eight breaths per minute). Practice deep breathing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening and at the onset of hot flashes.
Exercise daily. Walking, swimming, dancing, and bicycling are all good choices.
Try chill pillows. Cooler pillows to lay your head on at night might be helpful.
Talk to your doctor about taking hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, for a short time -- less than 5 years. This treatment prevents hot flashes in many women. Plus, it can help other symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness and mood disorders. Keep in mind that when you stop taking HRT, the hot flashes may come back. Short-term HRT carries some risks, including blood clots and gallbladder inflammation. If HRT is not right for you, there are other treatments that may offer relief. It is important to clear any new drugs (including over-the-counter) or supplements with your doctor before taking them.
Nonprescription treatments include:
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin E
Ibuprofen
Prescription treatments include:
HRT
Low-dose depression drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or venlafaxine (Effexor)
Clonidine, a blood pressure medication
Gabapentin, an antiseizure drug
Brisdelle, a paroxetine formula specifically for hot flashes
Duavee, a conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene formula designed to treat hot flashes
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Hot Flashes Of Menopause
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
The answer lies in the question. These are Hot flashes and are very common menopausal symptoms. Trauma history is least likely a correlation here and 2 years gap makes it less likely further.
Hot flashes vary among women going through menopause. Some women have hot flashes for a very short time during menopause. Other women may have hot flashes for life. Generally, hot flashes are less severe as time passes.
You probably can't avoid hot flashes during menopause, but there are things that may bring them on more often or cause them to be more severe. To prevent hot flashes, avoid these triggers:
Stress
Caffeine
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Tight clothing
Heat
Cigarette smoke
Other things you can do to keep hot flashes at bay include:
Stay cool. Keep your bedroom cool at night. Use fans during the day. Wear light layers of clothes with natural fibers such as cotton.
Try deep, slow abdominal breathing (six to eight breaths per minute). Practice deep breathing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening and at the onset of hot flashes.
Exercise daily. Walking, swimming, dancing, and bicycling are all good choices.
Try chill pillows. Cooler pillows to lay your head on at night might be helpful.
Talk to your doctor about taking hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, for a short time -- less than 5 years. This treatment prevents hot flashes in many women. Plus, it can help other symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness and mood disorders. Keep in mind that when you stop taking HRT, the hot flashes may come back. Short-term HRT carries some risks, including blood clots and gallbladder inflammation. If HRT is not right for you, there are other treatments that may offer relief. It is important to clear any new drugs (including over-the-counter) or supplements with your doctor before taking them.
Nonprescription treatments include:
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin E
Ibuprofen
Prescription treatments include:
HRT
Low-dose depression drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or venlafaxine (Effexor)
Clonidine, a blood pressure medication
Gabapentin, an antiseizure drug
Brisdelle, a paroxetine formula specifically for hot flashes
Duavee, a conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene formula designed to treat hot flashes
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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