Your Menopause and Hot Flash Troubles
Hot flashes (or hot flushes) are the most common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Hot flashes take place in more than two-thirds of North American women during perimenopause and the majority women with induced menopause or premature menopause A hot flash is a passing sensation of heat that may be accompanied by a red, flushed face and sweating.
Hot flashes come about when the blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilate to cool. This produces the red, flushed look to the face. A woman may also perspire to cool down the body. In addition, some women experience a rapid heart rate or chills. Many times hot flashes accompanied with sweating will take place at night. These are called night sweats and tend to interfere with sleep.
While it may be next to impossible to entirely steer clear of hot flashes during menopause, there are certain triggers that may bring them on more often or cause them to be more severe. To prevent hot flashes, keep away from these triggers:
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Spicy foods
- Tight clothing
- Heat
- Cigarette smoke
