More Information
none Women's Health News
none Women's Health Clinical Trials
none

 

Women's Health

Menopause

Symptoms of Menopause

Hot Flashes

One of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes. These uncomfortable feelings of intense heat, flushing, and possibly sweating are caused by sudden drops in estrogen, and typically last between 30 seconds and 15 minutes, but can last longer. Hot flashes are very common, affecting an average of 86% of menopausal women. Hot flashes usually subside about two years after the onset of menopause, but may continue for as long as 5 to 10 years.

During a hot flash, a woman may feel clammy or sweaty, may experience a change in mood, a change in heart rate, and may feel embarrassed. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed to alleviate this symptom. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of HRT. There are other, non-medical, steps you can take to relieve the discomfort of hot flashes:

  • Turn the thermostat down
  • Dress in layers that you can remove
  • Get regular exercise
  • Reduce your stress level
  • Avoid caffeine or spicy foods
  • Have somethng cool to drink or step outside if possible when a hot flash occurs

Night Sweats

Night sweats are the same thing as hot flashes, but they interrupt a woman's sleep. The effect of night sweats suggest a "cascade effect" to other symptoms associated with menopause. A woman who experiences night sweats will have her sleep interrupted, leading to fatigue, which leads to irritability and mood changes. Follow some of the suggestions listed above to help you reduce the incidences of night sweats and get a good night's sleep.

Hot Flashes, Smoking, and Obesity

Some recent studies (Obstetrics and Gynecology, February 2003) have found that there may be a link between the incidences and intensity of hot flashes in women who smoke and/or are considered obese. Smokers tend to have lower levels of estrogen, and tend to experience hot flashes anywhere between two and five years earlier than non-smoking women. They also report having more intense hot flashes than non-smokers. The good news: women who quit smoking before or early in menopause reported the same frequency and intensity of hot flashes as women who never smoked.

Women who are considered obese - that is, having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above - are also likely to experience earlier and more intense hot flashes. The excess fat tissue suppresses the body's production of estrogen and compromises the body's ability to regulate temperature.