Hot flushes

What are hot flushes?

Hot flushes may occur on their own but are often accompanied by night sweats or excessive sweating during the day. Hot flushes and sweats can also be accompanied by feelings of nausea, dizziness or a general feeling of being unwell. There are other causes of hot flushes apart from menopause. For example, men may sometimes experience the symptom but in general, when the term 'hot flush' is used, it refers to symptoms experienced by women going through menopause.

Hot flushes in women

There are other causes of hot flushes in women apart from menopause. If hot flushes are experienced by women in early adulthood, it is likely due to food or alcohol allergies, rosacea, or an overactive thyroid. However, when they occur in older women, menoupause should be investigated as a probable cause.

Interestingly, hot flushes are not exclusive to women and men may sometimes experience the symptom due to androgen deprivation therapy (when treating prostate cancer), due to naturally low testosterone, or due to stress. But in general, when the term 'hot flush' or 'hot flash' is used, it refers to symptoms experienced by women going through menopause.

Hot flushes or hot flashes. What is the difference?

The term 'hot flushes' is mainly used by women going through menopause. In the USA, the term 'hot flashes' is used. Both mean exactly the same thing - the most common symptom experienced by women during menopause.

Menopause hot flushes & sweats

Hot flushes in menopause may be felt all over the body but most commonly affect only the face and neck. Hot flushes often accompany, or contribute as one of the causes of sweating during the menopause.

As hot flushes and sweating during menopause are such prominent symptoms, frequently occurring together, many women going through menopause use the terms 'hot flushes' and 'menopausal sweats' interchangeably.

What do hot flushes feel like?

Flushes make women feel 'hot', with the reddening of the skin, and can increase their heart rate. Experiences may differ from individual to individual, but typically women feel a very brief and sudden rush of heat (usually most prominent in the face, neck, and chest), feel flushed, and sweat profusely. Some women feel cold chills after their hot flush.

Interestingly, not all women may experience hot flushes. But these women are few and far between. 

Hot flush triggers

There are many triggers (events that set something off) in a women's day-to-day life that can cause the onset of hot flushes. Here are some common triggers:

• Anxiety and stress
• Tight, non-breathable clothing
• Hot, spicy foods
• Drinking alcohol
• Caffeinated beverages or foods
• Smoking
• High temperatures in external environment

What can I expect?

Hot flushes associated with menopause can occur at any time. Some women experience these as the main symptom of menopause. Others sail through menopause without problems, experiencing hot flushes at the time of their last period. For a few, symptoms can continue for years beyond the end of menstruation.

What age do hot flushes start?

Hot flushes usually accompany menopausal transition and can occur roughly between age 45 and 55. However, it is not uncommon to start having hot flushes before age 45.
During perimenopause (the transition), you experience hot flushes less often than during menopause.

Your Body Sends You Signs

 Experience, however, does show that a quick transition from regular, normal periods, to no periods can be one of the causes of hot flushes becoming more prominent.

Menopause hot flushes and sweats can happen at any time of the day (often at the most inconvenient or worst possible moment). They can occur as often as several times an hour - not good for that silk blouse.

The number of episodes experienced each day by an average woman varies greatly. Each hot flush can last a few seconds or up to several minutes.

When do hot flushes go away?

Understandably, many women want to know when hot flushes end and whether they go away after menopause. Hot flushes can, unfortunately, last for 7-10 years. The good news is that they usually end post-menopause. In a small percentage of cases, they can last for the rest of a women's life but, in these cases, they gradually get less intense.

What causes hot flushes?

"Why do I get hot flushes? you may be wondering. Well, the root cause of hot flushes is not clear. What is known is that the part of the brain that senses and controls body temperature (and other body functions) is the hypothalamus.

During menopause, oestrogen levels fall. Although not fully understood, scientists think that this fall in oestrogen causes a glitch in the way the hypothalamus senses body temperature, making it think that you are too hot.

This causes a response designed to cool the body down. More blood goes to the skin (one of the causes of hot flushes and reddening of the skin) and sweat glands start working (the menopausal sweat).

Menopause hot flushes and the environment

One of the causes of hot flushes during menopause is known to be changes in the external environment. For example, moving between indoors and outdoors with big differences in temperature.

This is the reason women find that symptoms can be more common in the summer, or when entering a well-heated room during cold weather. Other triggers or causes of menopause hot flushes include stress, anxiety, heightened emotions and even eating spicy foods.

Hot flushes pose no real medical danger. However, when occurring at night and accompanied by night sweats, they can disturb your sleep and that of your partner. This in turn, can cause you to feel moody, affect concentration and energy levels.

Other reasons for getting hot flushes

Hot flushes can also be experienced by men who obviously are not going through the same menopause stages as women. Although the menopause is the first amongst the causes of hot flushes, there are other reasons why you might experience this symptom. These include:

• Stress and anxiety
• Drug medication
• Certain health problems

If you are suffering from hot flushes and do not feel that the menopause is the cause of these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor for advice.

Treating hot flushes

Alfred Vogel said that 'Good health is about more than taking remedies'. If you are going through the menopause, there are a number of steps you can take to help yourself.

As menopause symptoms can be so wide ranging, the best way to prepare yourself for 'the change' is to look at all aspects of your life:

• Eat a well balanced, wholesome diet and don't miss meals - low blood sugar levels can be one of the causes of hot flushes!
• Ensure that you have regular bowel movements (at least one a day) - constipation can be a major factor in triggering hot flushes! (Linoforce helps maintain bowel regularity.)
• Drink plenty of plain water - at least a litre and a half. This will help to hydrate you and alleviate hot flushes.
• Perform regular exercise - a brisk half hour walk a day can work wonders!
• Deal with stress. Stress causes the release of chemicals that promote hot flushes! (Try out our Neuroforce Formula to help better regulate your nervous system.)
• Add hot flashes and night sweat tablets to the mix as a treatment to provide relief for the excessive sweating that is so much of the menopause for many women.