Hot flushes in women…Is it normal?
Hot flushes in women are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. It also happens to women who had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or an oophorectomy (removal of one or both ovaries).
What are hot flushes anyway?
A hot flush is a hot flash with redness on the face and neck. It seems like thermometer mercury is falling down and rising up.
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One moment you are completely feeling normal but at the other moment, you feel a hot sensation going from your feet to the head.
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You feel like a volcano erupting through your chest and neck up to your face. It gets you soaking wet in sweat in no time. This may result in public embarrassment.
What happens during hot flushes?
- Palpitations or rapid heart rate
- Body temperature rises a few degrees
- Dripping sweat
- Tingling in the fingers
- Red face and neck
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
They can happen at any time of the day.
What are Night Sweats?
If experienced at night, the hot flashes are referred to as ‘Night Sweats’.
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It is not necessary that everyone will experience night sweats.Â
What happens during night sweats?
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Helplessness
- Interrupted Sleep
- Poor Memory
- Lack of concentration
- Feeling low the next day
According to research, 75% of menopausal ladies get affected by them.
Common Triggers of Hot Flushes
- Cooking food
- Doing house chores
- Hot shower
- Stress
- Making love
- Having spicy food
- Smoking
- Drinking coffee or alcohol
- Wearing closely fitted, woolen, or close neck clothes
How to relieve hot flushes and night sweats?
One can either opt for medical help or lifestyle changes to relieve hot flushes. As eventually, one learns how to live by it.
Medical intervention
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
As the name indicates, it is a therapy through which the hormones that the body stopped producing are replaced. This results in no more hormonal symptoms.
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Quite unluckily, those who are going through cancer treatment or have any hormone-dependent cancer like breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer cannot take the help of HRT. This treatment can result in cancer bouncing back.
Vitamin E
Mild symptoms of hot flushes in women can get reduced with the help of Vitamin E. As it is a strong antioxidant. But high doses of it may lead to bleeding.
Antidepressants
There are a few antidepressants that help in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes.
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Always take only your doctor-approved antidepressants.
Clonidine
It is a medication for a number of health conditions like hypertension.
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Clonidine helps in reducing the number of hot flushes in women but not its severity.
Gabapentin
It is an epileptic drug that has proved to reduce the severity, frequency, and time duration of hot flushes. Parageblin being related to gabapentin is also thought to have similar actions.
Progestagens
These are hormones prescribed by the doctor only when the lady has hormone-dependent cancer and nothing is proving effective to get rid of hot flushes in women.
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Special Note: Keep in mind that all the medications come with one side effect or the other. Never opt for self-medication. The doctor’s advice is highly recommended.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, a kind of psychological therapy, has proved to be greatly helpful in reducing the symptoms of hot flushes in women. This therapy helps in easing the mind and body.
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It is a talking therapy through which a person changes his perspective to how he looks at and feels about things.
Complementary Therapies
Soy
Through studies, it has been found that Asians are the least affected by hot flushes as they regularly take tofu and edamame in their diet which contains soya. But do not go overboard while having it.
Red clover
There are mixed reviews of the beneficial impact of red clover in reducing the sign and symptoms of hot flashes.
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Important: Both Soy and Red clover have plant estrogens. Hormone-dependent cancer patients and survivors shall keep this in mind.
Acupuncture
Research has proven that acupuncture and cupping are helpful in treating hot flush symptoms.
Lifestyle changes (Non-HRT)
- Having cooling drinks
- Wearing light cotton nighties or t-shirts and pajamas to bed
- Setting the air conditioner at a low temperature
- Turning the heating down
- Switching to mattresses with cooling pad
- Using cooling pad at the nape of the neck
- Have a bath with cold or lukewarm water
- Breathing exercises or yoga works in de-stressing (as stress is one of the triggers)
Related read: Stress Headaches
The Last Words
Night sweats, hot flashes, and hot flushes in women are some of the post-menopausal symptoms. They get triggered at any part of the day or night. Can last for a few minutes or hours. They may lead to social discomfort.
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Their most common symptoms are rapid heartbeat, sweat, high temperature, anxiety, and tingling in the fingers.
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Not all women experience it. But, those who go through hot flushes can minimize their frequency and intensity through medical help, cognitive behavioral therapy, or lifestyle changes.