How many hot flashes a day is normal?

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1. How do hot flashes happen?

Intense heat that starts in your chest and increases to your neck and head. The beads of sweat get bigger and bigger until the sweat runs down the face. It's a menopause hot flush and will take 5 minutes until it passes.
Doctors theorize that hot flashes and night sweats occur due to changes in estrogen levels. Fortunately, there are many ways to beat the heat and excessive sweating of menopause.

2. Will I have hot flashes as I approach menopause?

Hot flashes are one of the most common signs of perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause. Menopause, when your periods stop for good, usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Some women feel hot and hot without sweating, while others You sweat a lot, so you need to change clothes. When hot flashes occur at night, leaving you and your sheets drenched, they are called night sweats.
For about 75% of women, hot flashes and night sweats are a fact of life during perimenopause and menopause. A lucky few will not experience them. Some women experience only mild hot flashes.
But for 25% - 30% of women, hot flashes and night sweats will be severe enough to affect quality of life, says Valerie Omicioli, MD, clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and obstetrics and gynecology. reproductive science and a board-certified menopausal physician at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

3. What is the normal frequency of the occurrence of hot flashes?

A hot flash can last from one to five minutes and can happen several times a week for some women or daily for others. When hot flashes are severe, they can happen four or five times an hour or 20 to 30 times a day, says Omicioli.
When you experience such persistent hot flashes, you should be examined and consulted by a doctor so that you can be treated in time.

4. What causes hot flashes and sweating during menopause?

Doctors think hot flashes and night sweats are the result of fluctuating or decreasing estrogen levels. When the menstrual cycle stops, estrogen levels drop quite dramatically.
The drop can affect the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. We all have a heat neutral zone, which means our body temperature stays the same even when the temperature around us changes slightly. Theoretically, a drop in estrogen levels could narrow the heat neutral zone, so that small changes in outside temperature cause an increase in body temperature. Your body is programmed to keep your core temperature constant, so when the air temperature rises, blood rushes into the blood vessels (vasodilation) in your skin. You will become flushed and start to sweat. Sweating is your body's way of cooling off and keeping your body temperature stable.
There are a few other theories as to why menopause and excessive sweating tend to go hand in hand.
Super sensitive skin. Doctors theorize that some women have very sensitive skin cells, which makes them more susceptible to vasodilatation and hot flashes. Chemical imbalance in the brain. Researchers have also hypothesized that differences in levels of the hormone leptin, produced by fat cells, and a drop in blood sugar may play a role in hot flashes.

5. Menopause and Excessive Sweating: What Can You Do?

Some changes to your regular routine can help calm hot flashes.
Work according to your weight. Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to have hot flashes. A study of 338 overweight or obese women found that those who lost weight within 6 months had more improved hot flashes than those who did not.
Do exercise. Although studies are inconclusive, it is thought that regular exercise will reduce the frequency of hot flashes.
Quit smoking. Some studies have linked smoking with hot flashes. One study found that heavy smokers were four times more likely to have hot flashes than women who never smoked.
Add soy in your diet. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the results of studies showing that soy reduces hot flashes are inconsistent. To see if it works for you, you can try adding two to three servings of soy to your diet, says Omicioli. Try soy, tofu, tempeh or miso.

Use appropriate clothing. Wear light clothing and wear layers so you can shed heavier clothing during a hot flash. Wearing a material at night that wicks away moisture can help you sleep
Control the air temperature. Cool down, run the AC, open the windows or run the fan during the day and while you sleep.
Keep a cool drink by your side. Sipping a tall glass of ice water can help lower your body temperature. “We often tell women to drink plenty of fluids and not get dehydrated,” says Alexander.
Pay attention to potential triggers. Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods can trigger hot flashes in some women.
Relax. The stress hormone cortisol can make women more sensitive to hot flashes. Take deep belly breaths when you feel stressed or do yoga and meditation.

6. Use medication to treat hot flashes.

Some women find relief with lifestyle changes, but others need more than that. The most important thing to remember: talk to your doctor and think about all treatment possibilities. Several medications can help reduce hot flashes.
Hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is the most effective way to treat hot flashes, but research by the Women's Health Initiative shows an increased risk of heart disease, blood clots and stroke, and an increased risk of breast cancer when women use it. long-term oral estrogen and progestin use. The risk of heart disease is increased in older women who have been in menopause for 10 years or more.
But there is emerging evidence that non-oral forms of estrogen - cream, gel, patch or ring - may have a safety advantage in reducing the risk of blood clots and stroke.
Should weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor. If you decide to choose hormone therapy, the FDA recommends taking the lowest dose of hormone for the shortest period of time consistent with your treatment goals.
Another choice. If hormones are not an option, there are other treatments that may help. Studies have found that antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can improve hot flashes. These drugs work at a slightly lower dose to treat hot flashes than if you took them to treat depression.
Gabapentin (Neurontin), and anticonvulsants, and clonidine (Catapres), used to treat high blood pressure, are also sometimes prescribed for hot flashes.
Black cohosh supplements may also help some women reduce hot flashes, although scientific studies are mixed.
As for other supplements, including DHEA, dong quai, ginseng, kava, red clover, and soy, there is no convincing evidence that they help manage menopausal symptoms. Research into the safety and effectiveness of the supplement is ongoing. Because supplements can cause side effects and interact with medications, it's important to talk to your doctor if you're thinking about using them.
Whether your hot flashes are mild, moderate or severe, there is help. Dolgen recommends seeing a menopause specialist, which is what helped her finally find relief.
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Reference source: webmd.com