A sudden feeling of heat seems to have come over you. Now you are sweating and looking for something to fan yourself with or trying to increase the AC ventilation in your home. This has been happening for a while now, and you dread it whenever it happens suddenly without notice. These are called hot flashes, and this sensation occurs to many women worldwide. While they come at the worst time possible, hot flashes are nothing to be ashamed of or uncommon for women.
Whether your hot flashes have come with age or with a condition, this is something that you should be having a conversation about with your primary care physician or OB/GYN. Is it that big of a deal? That’s a great question, and the simple answer is yes. You do not want to go through an occurrence like this and not let your doctor know what happened. Doctors are only there to help you find ways of coping and dealing with your hot flashes.
What Are Hot Flashes & What Do They Feel Like?
Hot flashes come as an intense wave of heat from the inside of the body. The heat causes the person experiencing them to sweat and be uncomfortable for the duration of the hot flash. In some cases, some women experience intense heat and rapid heartbeats.
Hot flashes and their overall experience are different for every woman. The frequency in which they happen depends on your body but having them pretty frequently or randomly is not unusual. On average, these heat flashes can last from about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. For many, it can last even longer than those 10 minutes. In terms of when they happen, that can be every hour, every couple of hours, or every couple of days; it’s very random.
Causes of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a common symptom of pre-menopause and menopause, but other conditions can cause them. The general reason for hot flashes is the change in hormones of a premenopausal or menopausal woman. Most of the research shows that estrogen levels have decreased, which may cause a change in body temperature. Your body thinks that you’re too warm, which starts the hot flashes in an attempt to cool you down.
Can I Control My Hot Flashes?
For many hot flashes seem to disturb their everyday schedules. If this sounds like you, you should consider speaking to your doctor about possible treatment. Unless you’re someone that has hot flashes every hour, there isn’t a way for you to predict when they are coming on. So, you could be in the grocery store, at work, or just sitting at home, and it can come up. The suddenness and unpredictability cause many to ask if there is a way that they can control their hot flashes.
We’ll say that there is a way to deal and cope with your hot flashes. This would be more proper than the word “control.” During this time, your hormones are changing, and since they are constantly changing, the way to deal with your hot flashes wouldn’t be to control your hormones. Instead, what you can “control” are the symptoms that come with it. So, when you visit your doctor and speak to them about your hot flashes, they are more likely to deal with your symptoms.
Use these tips to deal with your hot flash symptoms.
- Keep Yourself Cool
You might be thinking, when those hot flashes come, that’s the first thing I’m thinking and can only think on the heat. We know it is, but there’s more you can do. Try dressing in layers so that you can remove them and feel instantly cooler when they come on. If you’re at home, try taking a cold shower and if you’re out, keep a cold pack with you and place it behind your neck. You can also carry a thermal water bottle and try drinking cold water when they start. This might help to keep you cool and calm on the inside. Lastly, keep a USB chargeable or battery portable fan with you.
- Avoid Triggers
Certain things may trigger your hot flashes. These might be foods or drinks. You want to pay attention to them over time and see what happens when you eat or drink those. Common triggers include coffee, alcohol, smoking, and sometimes spicy foods. When you notice what your triggers are, avoid them. Identifying your triggers can lessen the frequency of your hot flashes.
- Try Acupuncture or Mind-Body Interventions
A study by the National Institution of Health found that acupuncture is highly effective in reducing the frequency of hot flashes. More than 50% of the women that participated and received acupuncture saw a reduction in the frequency of their hot flashes. (The acupuncture treatment lasted eight weeks). In addition to acupuncture, you can try mind-body interventions such as meditation, yoga, and relaxation. Pick which one you would be interested in trying, implement it, and see how your hot flashes change.
Treatment for Hot Flashed at AIH
Most treatments that deal with hot flashes are in conjunction with menopausal therapies. The reality is that if you’re going through menopause, there are various symptoms that you may be dealing with besides hot flashes. It’s best to speak with your doctor, who will suggest the best treatment for you.
Apart from the tips above to deal with your hot flashes, you might want to try joining a clinical trial. At AIH, we have a clinical trial focusing on women ages 40 to 65 dealing with hot flashes. Our team will take the time to talk to you and explain the trial process. If this is something that you’re interested in, you can sign up on the AIH website.
Bottom Line
Hot flashes might not be something that you can get away from, but there is something that you can do about it. Think about the possible lifestyle changes you can make with the tips above. If you feel a clinical trial is something you’re ready to learn or participate in, then reach out to AIH today.
