Menopause Symptoms: This Symptom Will Heat You Up

Hot flashes belong to the list of the most commonly experienced menopause symptoms. They occur in more than 2/3 of North American women during the perimenopausal stage and in almost all women that have induced or premature menopause.

Among the different types of menopause symptoms that women experience, hot flashes are considered as one of the irritable ones. They are also referred to as hot flushes and are described as momentary sensations of heat that are sometimes accompanied by flushing or reddening of the face and sweating. The reason why hot flashes occur is still not known but they are said to be related to the changes that happen in women’s circulation. They happen when blood vessels that are situated near the skin’s surface dilate to cool. This in turn causes the red or flushed look of the face. Women can also sweat to cool down their bodies. In addition to these, some women may experience a rapid heartbeat or chills.

This symptom can happen with sweating at night time. Sweating that occurs at night are called night sweats and they can interfere with sleep. The severity as well as the duration of hot flashes varies from one menopausal woman to another. Some experience these for a short span of time while others can experience to a certain degree for the rest of their lives. In general, these things become less severe as time passes by.

Even though it’s impossible to completely prevent this symptom from happening, there are triggers that you can avoid. The triggers of this symptom include caffeine, spicy foods, stress, alcohol, cigarette smoke, tight clothing, and heat. Other things that you can do so that you can keep this symptom under control are as follows:

1. Keep yourself cool by keeping your room cool at night. Use fans and wear light clothing that are made from natural fibers. 2. Do slow and deep abdominal breathing (6 to 8 breaths per minute). Practice this for 15 minutes each morning and 15 minutes in the evening as well as during the onset of your hot flash episodes. 3. Do exercises on a daily basis. Dancing, walking, swimming, and bicycling are good to do. 4. Use chill pillows for your head.

Aside from the things that I’ve stated above, you can also talk to your doctor about undergoing short-term HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy. This menopause treatment prevents hot flushes in a lot of women. It can also help in controlling other symptoms such as mood disorders and vaginal dryness. However, you should know that even using hormone replacement therapy for a short span of time can still pose some risks such as gallbladder inflammation and blood clots. If HRT is not the best treatment for you, there are other types of treatments that can provide you the relief that you need. These treatments include OTC and prescription therapies. OTC drugs that you can take include vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and Ibuprofen.

Read about the other <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/menopause-symptoms-that-you-need-to-know-about">menopause symptoms</a> and their respective menopause treatments at the <a href="http://www.menopausesymptomshub.com/">Menopause Symptoms Hub</a> website.

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