What are hot flashes and Night Sweats?
A hot flash is a sudden temporary feeling of heat experienced by the majority of women around the time of their menopause.
Hot flashes (flushes) and night sweats are the most common symptoms associated with the menopause. Hot flashes affect 80% of women. Many women have problems with hot flushes and night sweats for just a few months, but these troublesome symptoms can persist for a number of years.
Hot flushes are not caused by a lack of estrogen, but by a sudden drop in estrogen. This is why hot flashes usually stop once the level of estrogen stabilises.
Hot flushes may be initiated by blankets, hot-water bottles, coffee, tea and spicy foods... Hot flashes can involve the neck and face, upper arms, or the entire body. They may last a few seconds only or a few minutes and they can be mild or strong. Increased blood flow to the area raises the skin temperature and this creates a flush - red and blotchy skin. Sweating is the body's natural way of trying to cool down.
What causes hot flashes and night sweats?
The cause of hot flashes seems to be a response to estrogen deficiency on the blood vessels in the skin which dilate resulting in increased local blood flow. Hot flushes and night sweats generally respond well to hormone replacement therapy.
Treatment of Hot Flashes and night sweats
Hot flashes and night sweats are the amongst the most common gynaecological symptoms requiring medical advice at the menopause.
There are many options for treating hot flashes ranging from lifestyle changes to prescription medications.
For mild hot flashes: Start with diet and lifestyle changes
- Keep yourself cool. Dress in layers so that you can remove clothing when you feel too warm. Open a window or use a fan or air conditioner to keep air flowing.
- Watch what you eat and drink. Hot and spicy foods, caffeinated beverages and alcohol can trigger hot flashes. Learn to recognize your personal triggers and avoid them.
- Stop smoking. Smoking is linked to increased hot flashes.
What about dietary supplements?
- Black cohosh. Black cohosh has been used widely in Europe for treating hot flashes and is becoming increasingly popular among women with menopausal symptoms in the United States. While its safety record has been good, scientific appraisal has not confirmed its efficacy for hot flashes or night sweat relief.0801
Prescription medication options
If you continue to have troublesome hot flashes your doctor may recommend hormone therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Hot flashes
Estrogen replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes.
Antidepressants. Low doses of certain antidepressants may decrease hot flashes. Antidepressants from classes of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have been found to relieve hot flashes in some clinical trials. These include venlafaxine (Effexor), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram and (Celexa).
Many doctors now consider these antidepressants the treatment of choice if you have troublesome hot flashes and can't â€" or choose not to â€" take hormone therapy. However, these medications aren't as effective as hormone therapy for severe hot flashes and may cause unwanted side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, weight gain or sexual dysfunction. Talk with your doctor about whether the benefits outweigh the potential side effects for you.
Clonidine, a pill or patch used to treat high blood pressure, may provide some relief from hot flashes. Side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation can occur.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What will happen to me at my menopause?
- 2 Why does nature put women through the menopause?
- 3 Is life-expectancy changing?
- 4 What happens to my reproductive hormones at the menopause?
- 5 What non-hormonal changes occur at the menopause?
- 6 What problems might I have as a result of my menopause?
- 7 When am I likely to reach my menopause?
- 8 What is a premature menopause?
- 9 What are hot flushes and will HRT reduce them?
- 10 What causes hot flushes and night sweats?
- 11 Can my bladder problems be related to the menopause?
- 12 Can the menopause be associated with psychological problems.
- 13 How long can my menopausal (climacteric) symptoms last?
- 14 Is there a test that will accurately determine when my menopause has occurred?
- 15 Is it normal to experience heavy periods before the menopause?
- 16 How are heavy periods around the time of the menopause treated?
- 17 Is there a need to investigate vaginal bleeding after the menopause (postmenopausal bleeding)?
- 18 What could be the cause of vaginal bleeding after the menopause?
- 19 What is atrophic vaginitis?
- 20 What local genital symptoms can be associated with the menopause?
- 21 I have gone through the menopause and now have some bleeding (postmenopausal bleeding PMB). What will my gynaecologist wish to do?
- 22 Could I have any other long-term medical problems resulting from my menopause?
- 23 What is coronary heart disease?
- 24 What is osteoporosis?
- 25 Where else can I obtain further information?
- 26 Could I have some recommended menopause support groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
