Women and Hot Flashes
You suddenly feel a burning feeling on the face and the upper
body, probably with a lightning-fast heartbeat, nausea, vertigo,
headache and other irritating symptoms. You are experiencing
what is commonly known as a "hot flash." What infernal reason is
behind this? Hot flashes are a woman's biological process caused
by the hormonal dictates of menopause. Principally that is, but
it can also be brought about by particular medications and the
styles/manner of living.
Technically, menopause is a biological operation and not a
deficiency state in estrogen. It happens at age fifty on the
average. Specifically though, a lowered level of estrogen
directly impacts on the hypothalamus. The latter is that part of
one's body that controls sleep cycles, sex hormones and
temperature. The lowering of estrogen disconcerts the
hypothalamus - and what it reads is "too hot." The brain reacts
by announcing an all-out order to the heart, nervous system and
the blood vessels: "eliminate that heat." End result is that the
heart beats quicker, blood vessels dilate and the sweat glands
excrete. The unfortunate consequences would be: the body cools
down when factors dictate that it should not, thus, one is
soaking wet in the middle of a sales presentation. Not only is
it highly uncomfortable, it is embarrassing.
This is in fact normal; 85% of women in the US have this as they
come near menopause. Twenty to fifty percent continue to have
them for a longer period of time. Thus, intensity decreases over
time. There are significant differences in terms of onset,
frequency, duration and the nature of these flashes. It may last
for just a few minutes but it could take more than an hour for
one to completely normalize. The most ordinary time of onset is
from 6 to 8 a.m. and also between 6 to 10 p.m.
Do not despair, if one can really make a conscientious effort of
avoiding the triggers, it would be a significant victory. It
would be a major first step in winning at least a battle. Hot
flash is triggered by the following: alcohol, caffeine, diet
pills, spicy food, hot food, hot tubs, smoking, hot weather and
still some others. Here are some survival tips: dress in layers
and avoid turtleneck shirts. Where possible, lower the
thermostat, get a larger bed if you and your partner are on
different heat modes but still want to be close to each other,
take a shower before crashing, arrive at meetings and functions
early so that you can take a pick of your seat, and try tylenol.
Regarding the treatment of hot flashes, Chinese medicine has a
well-respected reputation. The Chinese have descriptions for all
kinds. They involve: acupuncture and herbology. The latter means
that different kinds of herbs are mixed to make a particular tea
suited to alleviate one's specific symptoms.
One of Mayo clinic's doctors, Dr. Loprinzi, has studied that
antidepressants also play an important role in treatment.
Low-dose may assist in delaying a hot flash. Effexor
(venlafaxine) can cut down the frequency of hot flashes by about
half, this in close to sixty percent of women with breast
cancer.