Hot Flashes – Things To Know About It

Hot flashes are a sudden feeling of warmth, burning skin, and excessive sweating. And it’s always connected with pre-menopause or menopause.

Most women after their 40s get these symptoms, but few men feel this as it’s not only associated with menopause.

What are the causes of Hot flashes?

• Menopause – Hormonal changes during menopause can affect the brain’s thermoregulatory centre – which controls body temperature. 

Changes in the estrogen and progesterone levels give variation in the body temperature, and you can experience sudden hot feelings and excessive sweating.

• Drugs – Some drugs can influence your body temperature.

Antidepressants, vasodilators, tuberculosis medicine, steroids, and some opioids can affect the heat mechanisms in your body.

Once your body gets used to this medicine, symptoms may go away. But if you are not finding any changes, consult a prescribed doctor.

• Thyroid – Hyperthyroidism is one of the causes of hot flashes. Your thyroid gland is super active in hyperthyroidism and produces thyroid hormone more than required. 

Which hampers body metabolism and creates excessive heat in the body.

• Anxiety – During stress or anxiety, the heart pumps fast, resulting in increased blood flow, giving rise to body temperature, excessive sweating and redness.

• Infection – Any viral or bacterial infection causes fever. When the body tries to attack the virus, body temperature goes high. 

Some of them like urinary tract infections, abscesses, and tuberculosis.

• Neurological disorders – Some neurological condition can interfere with the autonomic nervous system – which regulates the body temperature and causes hot flashes.

Migraine, brain tumour, Multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s can cause high fever and excessive sweating.

• Rosacea – Rosacea is a skin condition where blood vessels swell up, and skin becomes red and bumps on the face. 

• Diet – Your diet can also be the cause of hot flashes. For example, drinking alcohol and eating excessive spicy food can dilate blood vessels and raise body temperature. 

• Sleeping environment – Most hot flashes attacks aggravate during the night, in the form of excessive sweating as our body temperature fluctuates during the night. 

Blankets and thick clothes can give rise to excessive sweating.

Symptoms 

• Increased heartbeats
• Anxiety
• Feeling of warmth through your chest, neck and face
• Excessive sweating in the upper body
• Red, blotchy skin
• The chilled feeling after a few minutes of warmness

How to deal with hot flashes

There is no cure for it. But you can make some changes in your daily routine to manage it.

• Consult your gynaecologist if your hot flashes are related to menopause or pre-menopause.
• If you have started with any new medication, 
• observe these changes, consult your doctor and talk with them regarding the change of medicine.
• Do meditation and yoga if stress is causing it.
• Stay well hydrated and maintain a water balance in the body.
• Keep your house well ventilated.
• Carry a portable fan.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
• Avoid alcohol and spicy food.
• Quit smoking.
• Eat healthily.

Conclusion

• Hot flashes are not only due to menopause.
• It may be due to any other underlying conditions.
• If you are not able to find any cause consult your physician. 
• Frequent episodes of hot flashes need a doctor’s attention.

Have any doubts about it? Comment below.