It typically lasts for several minutes. Others say the warmth is similar to the sensation of being under a sun bed, or feeling like a furnace.
The website healthtalk. Many women learn to live with menopause-related hot flushes, but if they're really bothering you and interfering with your day-to-day life, talk to a GP about treatments that may help. The most effective treatment for hot flushes is hormone replacement therapy HRT , which usually completely gets rid of them.
Your doctor will talk to you about the benefits and risks of using HRT. If you have had a type of cancer that's sensitive to hormones, such as breast cancer, your doctor will not recommend HRT and will talk to you about alternatives.
But most of these will decrease in frequency and severity. Q: What causes hot flashes? Q: How can you control hot flashes?
Lifestyle 1. Keep Yourself Cool. Dress in layers so you can easily remove clothes if you get hot. Wear natural fibers instead of synthetic materials. Carry a portable fan in your purse. Use cold water and pre-treated wipes to cool the back of your neck when you feel a hot flash coming on. Avoid Triggers. It may take you a while to figure out your triggers. For most women, they include coffee and red wine. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references AskMayoExpert. Hot flashes adult. Mayo Clinic; Santen RJ, et al. Menopausal hot flashes. Accessed Feb. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. Reaffirmed Lobo RA, et al. Menopause and care of the mature woman.
In: Comprehensive Gynecology. Elsevier; 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. One study published in found that women who had acupuncture had significantly fewer menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, than those who had sham treatments.
Another study worked with a large sample of women with breast cancer. Treatments for breast cancer often trigger hot flashes. Participants who used acupuncture had less frequency and intensity of hot flashes. Meditation can also be very successful in helping manage stress levels. Stress is a common hot flash trigger for many women. Taking stress management training in your community might lead to numerous other benefits in your health and quality of life.
Lifestyle choices can make as much of an impact on your body as any medication or supplement you take. Living a healthy lifestyle can reduce the incidence and severity of hot flashes and help reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Be mindful of the following ways you can improve your health:.
Just as no two women are alike, neither are the ways their bodies will react to treatment for hot flashes. Talk to your doctor if none of the common hot flash management tools are helping.
As hard as it is to imagine while in the midst of your own personal heat wave, this too shall pass. For more information on how to get the most out of your menopausal years, keep reading about menopause. To help you get a handle on menopause, here are 11 things you should know about this transitional stage of life.
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