What Causes Hot Flashes More Common To Women On Their Menopausal Stage

September 1, 2010   Filed under pregnancy

Hot flashes are caused by the onset of menopause, which occurs later in a woman’s life. Every woman will experience this symptom of discomfort at a certain point in time. The more important question is why do these occur, and is there any way in the world that we can possibly prevent them from happening?

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that regulates your body’s temperature. When hot flashes occur, it is because the hypothalamus is reacting to the change in estrogen levels in the body. The hypothalamus then believes it is overheating, causing blushing and sweating in the face and neck and even increased heart rate.

The severity of each episode changes for each person. If these symptoms are experienced more during menopause, they can become even more severe. Therefore, you really need to know what’s going on with your body should something like this pass through you.

Wearing a tank top with a jacket over it is a great way to dress prepared for the unexpected symptoms of hot flashes. When you feel your body heat rising, remove the jacket to help cool your body. Also, having a fan nearby can be helpful.

Sometimes something as simple as sticking your head in your freezer for a minute will help cool you down faster. If you have your clothes worn as layers, you will most likely need your jacket or outer layer after the hot flash as you may experience a cold chill post-hot flash.

Along with keeping a smaller fan in your purse, there are other quick ways to get cool. Stick your head in the freezer or fridge or take a cool shower instead of a hot shower before bed. If you do decide to layer your clothes you may need the extra layers such as a jacket after your hot flash, as many women experience cool chills after a hot flash.

Although menopause is the leading cause of hot flashes, other factors should be looked at as well if you are not going through menopause. It maybe your diet, caffeine and alcohol intake or maybe a certain medication. In more rare cases however, hot flashes can be caused by particular cancers or even serious infections.

More often than not it is caused by menopause, however, as 85% of hot flashes are menopausal related.

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