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HRT | Alternative Therapies | Life Style Changes
What is a hot flash?
Intense warmth. A hot flash is a sudden rise in body temperature. It is typically most intense on your chest, face and neck.
Because of the intense warmth, your hot flash may also cause you to sweat. If you sweat a lot, this could cause you to lose too much body heat. You may experience chills after the hot flash is over.
Hot flashes are most commonly due to menopause. Some women may continue to experience them even after menopause has ended.
What Causes Hot Flashes in Menopause?
Hot Flashes occur from a decrease in estrogen levels during menopause. Due to this, your glands release higher amounts of other hormones. This affects the brain’s thermostat, causing your body temperature to fluctuate. Hormone therapy has been shown to relieve some of the discomfort of hot flashes for many women.
Practical suggestions for coping with hot flashes include:
Dress in layers, so that you can remove clothing when a hot flash starts.
Avoid foods and beverages, like spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, tea, and other hot beverages that may cause hot flashes.
Drink a glass of cold water or fruit juice when a hot flash starts.
Reduce your stress level. Stress may worsen hot flashes. Do meditation every day.
Keep a thermos of ice water or an ice pack next to your bed during the night.
Use cotton sheets, lingerie, and clothing that allow your skin to breathe.
Keep a diary or record of your symptoms to find what might trigger your hot flashes.
What is the Treatment for Hot flashes?
There are several help to manage menopause symptoms including:
Hormonal Therapy (HT)
Hormone therapy (HT) involves the taking of a combination of female hormones estrogen and progesterone during perimenopause and menopause. HT is prescribed in pill form. However, estrogen can also be given by skin patches and vaginal creams.
The decision to start HT will be made only after you and your healthcare provider discuss the risks and benefits.
Estrogen therapy (ET)
Taking estrogen alone is regarded as Estrogen therapy (ET). When the body is no longer made estrogen ET will be prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy. Estrogen is prescribed as pills, skin patches and vaginal creams.
Estrogen alternatives like ‘synthetic estrogens’ such as ospemifene improve symptoms of vaginal atrophy. This is safe as it does not affect endometrial cancer risk.
Non-Hormonal therapy (NHT)
This treatment involves the use of other types of medicines to relieve some of the symptoms in menopause.
Alternative therapies
Homeopathy or herbal products often called bioidentical hormones will bring some relief from the symptoms of menopause.
Can menopause cause anxiety, depression or panic attacks?
Transitioning to Menopause can be an unrestful time for some women. Your hormone levels drop quickly. This causes your period to slow to a stop.
These changes may also affect the chemicals in your brain and in turn your mood also.
Is it normal to feel anxious as menopause sets in?
The fluctuation of estrogen and another key hormone, progesterone in your body trigger feelings of anxiety or depression. However high anxiety or panic attacks are not a normal part of menopause.
Does having panic attacks mean you have panic disorder?
Necessarily not. Those with panic disorder have frequent panic attacks. Women who were prone to anxiety in the past are more likely to have panic disorders during menopause.
Panic disorders are hard to identify. They are not easily diagnosed. But that doesn't mean that it doesn’t exist or that you can’t treat it.
Changes in hormone levels influence neurotransmitters in the brain. The drop in estrogen levels leads to hot flashes which disturb sleep. The whole lot leads to anxiety and mood swings.
If you experience symptoms of depression for more than two weeks, you need to talk to your healthcare advisor to find a treatment.
When to seek help for emotional problems during menopause?
When depression or anxiety causes problems in your relationships or at work and if you don't find a clear solution for these problems, it’s time to see a doctor.
Is there anything else I can do to manage with emotional concerns?
A healthy lifestyle can help ease the menopause transition. You need to follow these steps:
Exercise and eat healthy.
Engage in a creative hobby that gives you a sense of achievement.
Stay connected with your friends and family.
Follow the medication prescribed by your doctor.
Are hot flashes a sign of pregnancy?
Hot flashes and night sweats are commonly associated with menopause, but they may also be the signs of pregnancy. During a hot flash, you will feel a quick rush of heat in the body that can make you sweat and your face become red and flush.
More than 50% of pregnant women experience hot flashes in the first and second trimesters. This happens due to the fluctuating levels of hormones (primarily estrogen).
Are hot flashes worse at night?
Probably yes! During the night, hormone levels can swing even more drastically, which sometimes triggers severe hot flashes that can leave clothes and bedding soaked. Diet, caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol are just a few of the factors that can create more severe hot flashes at night.
Can birth control cause hot flashes?
Birth control pills (contraceptives) have some side effects that are similar to menopause symptoms. These include spotting between periods, mood swings and changes in appetite.
Could hot flashes be a sign of cancer?
Hot flashes and night sweats are common in cancer patients and survivors. However, if your hot flashes are progressive over a period of time, you have to visit your healthcare advisor for immediate help.
At what age do hot flashes start?
When people hear “hot flash” they generally think of menopause. While women typically experience menopause in the 40s or 50s, but a large number of women can experience hot flashes not only during menopause but well in their 60s, 70s and even 80s.
If you are in your 60s and still experiencing symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, you need to take the help of your healthcare advisor.
Hot flashes are commonly associated with menopause, but they can also be triggered by a variety of different lifestyle factors or medical conditions and they are not always a sign of serious issues. The following are some of them:
A hot bedroom.
Caffeine.
Infection.
Hyperthyroidism.
Prescription Medications.
Anxiety.
Carcinoid Syndrome and hormone-secreting Tumors.
Niacin supplements
Bottom Line:
Once your body begins menopausal changes, the symptoms can last for a few years or longer. These transitions will impact your physical and emotional states.
Still, this doesn't mean you have to suffer through the discomfort of hot flashes.
By making simple lifestyle changes, you can avoid further complications and lead a normal life.
Be sure to discuss any remedies, concerns or unusual symptoms with your healthcare advisor, especially if you're taking any medications.
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