Say Goodbye to Hot Flashes

If your hormone ratios are out of whack, you may be experiencing perimenopause hot flashes. For an outsider, they may not seem that bad; for the person having them day after day, it starts to get in the way of everyday life.

In seconds, you can become drenched in sweat making working or simple activities embarrassing and uncomfortable. The good news is that you can say goodbye to flashes and night sweats with natural remedies.

What is a hot flash?

A hot flash is exactly what the name suggests— an intense and sudden warmth sensation spreading throughout the body. It centers mostly on the upper body, on the chest, neck, and face. Some people’s skin flushes red as if you’re blushing. It may even cause sweating. After the hot flash recedes, the sweat cools and dry, leaving you feeling chilled.

What are the symptoms of a hot flash?

One myth about hot flashes is that they happen for a short period. But the frequency, length, and intensity vary for women. Hot flashes can last for a decade, and on average, around seven years. Most women experiencing them have hot flashes daily. 

The symptoms of a hot flash include the following:

• Fast heartbeat
• A rapid feeling of warmth spreading throughout the upper body
• Flushed skin that appears red and blotchy
• Perspiration or sweat
• Feeling chilled after the hot flash lessens
• Sensation of anxiety
• Disrupted sleep

As mentioned, the intensity changes for each person. Some women only experience mild symptoms, and for others, the sensation completely disrupts daily activities.

Are night sweats the same as hot flashes?

In essence, night sweats are the same as hot flashes, except they happen at night. Night sweats are a more severe form of hot flashes and usually result in lots of wetness that can soak pajamas and sheets.

The intense heat and sweating can wake you from sleep and cause ongoing sleep disruptions that may develop into insomnia.

What causes hot flashes?

Most of the time, hot flashes and night sweats have to do with hormone levels. Women's estrogen levels decrease as they age and plummet dramatically during menopause. This results in hormone imbalances, which causes uncomfortable to painful menopausal symptoms.

Estrogen is a primary female sex hormone responsible for carrying out essential bodily functions. The main one being the regulation of the menstrual cycle and fertility. But estrogen also plays a part in bone and cardiovascular health.

If you're experiencing menopause, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• vaginal dryness
• experience hot flashes and night sweats
• insomnia
• extreme tiredness
• feeling weak
• mood swings
• dry skin
• vaginal atrophy

Women experience these symptoms in various intensities, and they may last for a few months to a few years.

Risk Factors for Night Flashes

You may not be menopausal when experiencing hot flashes, and other risk factors may increase the likelihood of experiencing them. Some of these risk factors include:

• Obesity:  Men and women with a high body mass index (BMI) have an increased risk of hot flashes.
  
  
• Smoking: People who smoke may increase the chances of having hot flashes.
  
  
• Race:  During menopause, black women report experiencing hot flashes more than other races.

How to say goodbye to hot flashes?

Saying goodbye to perimenopausal hot flashes is possible but may require patience and trying different health solutions before finding the right one for you. The most effective treatment is hormone therapy using estrogen, but other options are available.

Prescription Medications

Antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs can offer some relief from hot flashes. Although health care professionals agree, they aren't as effective as taking hormone supplements. Medications may also come with some severe side effects.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

 Hormone therapy is the most common treatment for hot flashes using estrogen pills. It involves taking estrogen hormone replacement therapy (ERT) to add back the missing hormones. Usually, the reason for hot flashes is low estrogen, and levels drop during menopause.

Women may be thrust into early menopause if they've had a hysterectomy or oophorectomy. The ovaries produce the majority of the estrogen in the body, and if they're removed, hormone replacement helps bring the body back into balance.

Estrogen pills with prescription-grade estrogen, such as Estrace and Femtrace, may have some side effects. Transdermal estrogen creams or patches may have fewer side effects and may provide superior relief.

Natural Remedies

Saying goodbye to hot flashes is also possible with more natural remedies. Below are a few treatments to consider when looking for a life free of hot flashes.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practiced and revered for centuries and is widely popular in Chinese medicine. It entails the insertion of tiny needles into key points in the body. Other than mild discomfort, there are no other side effects.

Besides helping hot flashes, acupuncture can help with other symptoms related to menopause, such as insomnia and mood swings.

Black Cohosh

It's a flowering plant long used by the Native Americans for different ailments. Today, it's commonly used to help menopausal women, fertility, and hormonal imbalance. It's thought to be a phytoestrogen, which copies the action of estrogen.

Evening Primrose Oil

 Evening primrose oil (EPO) is created from the seeds of a North American plant. Its healing powers have been debated, but many people use it to help with acne, eczema, hot flashes, and other ailments.

Estrogen Creams

One effective treatment to say goodbye to hot flashes is bioidentical hormone creams. Estrogen hormone creams are natural and easily applied to the body. The estrogen travels through the skin to the bloodstream, where it's transported to the body's receptors to bring hormonal imbalance.

High-quality hormone creams are formulated for maximum absorption and come enriched with soothing olive and coconut oil, among other natural ingredients. They are proven to help with perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal symptoms, including hot flashes.

Estrogen creams are effective if you're looking for natural remedies for kicking hot flashes out the door. They provide safe relief at a low financial cost.