Menopause hot flashes and how to overcome them

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Many people experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause and perimenopause. People can reduce or prevent these unpleasant symptoms with a number of measures. This article will help you learn more about what causes hot flashes and night sweats and how you can treat them at home or with medication.

1. What to know about hot flashes during menopause

A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat that spreads mainly through the face, neck, and chest. Night sweats occur when hot flashes occur at night. Up to 85% of women report having hot flashes during menopause. Menopause is a normal phase of life. Surgery or chemotherapy induces menopause in some people receiving treatment.
According to the National Institute on Aging, natural menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 and lasts about 7 years but can continue for up to 14 years.
According to some estimates, the onset of hot flashes can last an average of 5.2 years. The earlier they occur in life, the longer they can last.
Hot flashes and night sweats occur before and during menopause due to changing hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, that affect the body's temperature control.
These changes in hormone levels affect the action of other hormones responsible for regulating the body's temperature. This causes a sudden feeling of heat, flushing, and heavy sweating. The frequency of hot flashes and night sweats varies from person to person. Some people only have occasional hot flashes while for others the symptoms can interfere with daily life.

2. Treatment and prevention

Some women learn to deal with menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats and are able to live a normal life, but other women can feel quite anxious.
Doctors recommend people make lifestyle changes to control hot flashes for 3 months before trying the drug. People can try the following methods to reduce or prevent hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.

2.1. Home remedies for hot flashes and night sweats

People can adopt a series of simple lifestyle changes to deal with hot flashes during menopause.
There are different factors that can increase hot flashes and night sweats in individuals. You can try to document the causes and avoid them. According to the National Institute on Aging, common triggers include:
Alcohol. Spicy food. Caffeine . Smoke. Other lifestyle tips include:
Stay calm. Wear lightweight or multi-layered clothing that can be taken off during a hot flash. Keep a fan next to the bed. This will be helpful when people sweat at night. Keep room temperature low. Open a window and use a fan or air conditioner to circulate air in the room. Take a cool shower during the day and before going to bed. Dab cool water on your wrist. There are many blood vessels in the wrist, so this can be a good way to cool down quickly. Maintain a reasonable weight. Hot flashes can be more frequent and severe if people are overweight or obese. Maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly and leading an active lifestyle. Relax and relieve stress. Slow-deep breathing and meditation are techniques that can help reduce stress and reduce hot flashes.

2.2. Alternative method

Many people find relief from menopause symptoms through the use of alternative medicine methods, although these remedies may not work for everyone.
Mind and body techniques that can improve symptoms include:
Mindfulness meditation. Research from 2011 shows that mindfulness can reduce women's nuisance levels of hot flashes and night sweats. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Research from 2014 shows that CBT can reduce hot flashes and night sweats in people with the problem.

2.3. Dietary supplements

Some people find herbal remedies helpful. However, there is little research on their effectiveness, and some may interact with other medications or have harmful side effects.
If people want to try supplements to improve hot flashes, they can ask their doctor about the following methods:
Phytoestrogens. A review of studies from 2015 found that phytoestrogens can reduce the frequency of hot flashes without serious side effects. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that have some properties similar to estrogen. Dogwood is an herbal preparation. A 2010 review of studies found that this supplement can reduce the frequency of hot flashes and night sweats.

2.4. Medicine

If someone has severe hot flashes, night sweats that disrupt their daily life or cause distress, a doctor may recommend the following medications:

2.4.1. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Hormone therapy, or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a way in which people take medications that contain estrogen to regulate hormone levels. HRT can relieve many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats.
Women who have had a hysterectomy with a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone. But women who still have a uterus are at increased risk of endometrial cancer if they take only estrogen. Therefore, they should take a medication that contains both estrogen and progesterone. By combining these two hormones, it is possible to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer compared to taking estrogen alone.
The doctor will tailor hormone therapies to the individual according to the risk factors involved and will prescribe the lowest effective dose of hormones to reduce side effects. Doctors generally do not recommend hormone therapy for women who already have a hormone-sensitive cancer, such as breast cancer. This is because these cancers grow faster with the addition of hormones. Similarly, doctors do not recommend this treatment for women who already have blood clots.

2.4.2. Antidepressants

Antidepressants can also be used to reduce hot flashes and night sweats, although they are not as effective as hormone therapy.
However, they are a good option for women who cannot be treated with hormones. The FDA approved the use of paroxetine, an antidepressant, to treat hot flashes. Other antidepressants may also be helpful, including venlafaxine and fluoxetine. Dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, weight gain, or sexual dysfunction are possible side effects of these medications.
Antidepressants can be an effective treatment for hot flashes and may only be needed during the menopausal transition when symptoms are present.

2.4.3. Other drugs

Other prescription medications may be used to reduce hot flashes and night sweats. However, these medications are off-label and are not approved for use in this condition and should not be used for menopausal symptoms unless directed by your doctor. These include:
Clonidine, an antihypertensive drug commonly used to reduce high blood pressure. It can be taken as a pill or as a skin patch. Possible side effects include constipation, dizziness, trouble sleeping, and dry mouth. Gabapentin, an antiepileptic drug commonly used to treat seizures. Possible side effects are trouble sleeping, dizziness, and headache. Most people experience hot flashes and night sweats as they go through menopause. Some women experience occasional hot flashes that don't affect their daily activities, but for others, they can be very uncomfortable. People can use home remedies to treat menopausal symptoms, and in severe cases, they can use medication, including hormone therapy. You should talk to your doctor about the best and safest methods for reducing symptoms, as these can vary from person to person.
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Reference source: medicalnewstoday.com