Why hot flushes

Up to 85 percent of women report hot flashes during menopause. Read on to learn more about the causes of hot flashes and night sweats and how you can treat them at home or with medication.

Menopause is a normal stage of life. Surgery or chemotherapy cause the menopause in some people who have these treatments. According to the National Institute of Ageing , natural menopause occurs between 45 and 55 years of age and lasts for around 7 years, but can continue for up to 14 years. According to some estimates, the occurrence of hot flashes may run for an average of 5.

And the earlier in life they occur, the longer time period they may last. This causes the characteristic feelings of sudden warmth, flushing, and excessive sweating. The frequency of hot flashes and night sweats differ between people. Some only experience occasional hot flashes while, for others, the symptoms can get in the way of daily life. Although some women learn to deal with menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats and can live a normal life with them, for other women they can be quite disturbing.

Doctors recommend that people use lifestyle changes to manage hot flashes for 3 months before trying medication. People can try the following methods to reduce or prevent menopausal hot flashes and night sweats:. Different factors may increase hot flashes and night sweats in different people.

Individuals can try making a note of triggers and avoiding them. According to the National Institute of Ageing , common triggers include:. Many people find relief from the symptoms of menopause through using alternative medicine practices, though these remedies may not work for everyone. Some people may find that herbal remedies help. However, there is little research about their effectiveness, and some may interact with other medications or have harmful side effects.

Other medicines have been shown to help, including some antidepressants and a medicine called clonidine. Find out more about treatment for hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. Women often turn to complementary therapies as a "natural" way to treat their hot flushes.

But the research is patchy, the quality of the products can vary considerably, they can interfere with some medicines, and they can have side effects for example, liver damage has been reported with black cohosh. Find out more about complementary therapies. Page last reviewed: 29 August Next review due: 29 August Most women will experience hot flushes when going through the menopause.

You can consider lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy, prescription medications, or alternative therapies.

Talking to your doctor can help you decide on the best approach to help prevent your hot flashes. Some women are able to manage their hot flashes with some simple tools or techniques. Here are some simple ways to find relief:. Many women are turning to natural products to help with managing hot flashes and night sweats.

Some products can interfere with over-the-counter and prescription medications. These include:. Check with your doctor before taking any of these products.

Herbs can interfere with medications and aggravate disorders, beyond what is listed here. Herbal products are not monitored for quality and purity by the FDA. The popularity of hormone replacement therapy HRT has waxed and waned over the years. Treatment with synthetic hormones may be an option for some women whose hot flashes are debilitating and greatly affect the quality of their life. Estrogen supplements level out the amount of estrogen in your system, reducing the incidence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats.

Estrogen is usually taken with progestin to reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer. It can be taken by pill, through a vaginal cream or gel, or a patch. A physician can help you make decisions is you are a candidate for HRT.

Many women will not be able to take hormones or bio-identical hormone and your doctor will take a full medical history. Other medications have been found to help women whose hot flashes and night sweats are difficult to manage. Work with your doctor to choose if these medications might be appropriate for you and your situation. Gabapentin and pregabalin, usually given for nerve-mediated pain or seizures, offer relief for some women.

Antidepressants venlafaxine Effexor , fluoxetine Prozac , and paroxetine Paxil have also been shown to be effective for treatment of hot flashes. Acupuncture may be helpful, without the side effects of medication. Typically, women who use antidepressants take a much lower dose than other patients who use the medication to treat depression. The side effects of antidepressants include nausea, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and jitteriness.

Hormone Replacement Therapy HRT is a treatment method whereby patients take medication that contains estrogen to help in regulating the hormone levels in their bodies. The primary purpose of hormone therapy is to steady the levels of progesterone and estrogen in the body. This is one of the most effective treatment methods for hot flushes.

However, HRT is not ideal for everyone, and it comes with several drawbacks. Long term hormone therapy carries an increased risk for breast cancer, stroke, heart attack, dementia, gallbladder disease, and blood clots.

The risks associated with hormone therapy vary greatly from one woman to another depending on various health and lifestyle factors. You are advised to discuss the risks with an experienced gynaecologist before you opt for this treatment method.

You should never use hormone therapy to treat hot flushes if:. Most women experience hot flushes when they are going through menopause. While some women experience light and occasional hot flushes that do not interfere with their daily lives, others experience prolonged and intense hot flushes that take a toll on their quality of life. Simple lifestyle changes such as wearing light clothing and taking regular cold showers can help relieve hot flush symptoms.

Severe hot flushes can also be managed using non-hormone treatment options or hormone therapy. It is highly advisable that you talk to an experienced gynaecologist in Singapore about the best and safest treatment method that you can use to manage your condition. Beh Suan Tiong Dr. Sim Hsien Lin Dr. Choo Wan Ling Dr. Heng Tung Lan Dr.

Hong Sze Ching Dr.