Hot Flashes
The hot, prickly feeling in your chest and neck? That's a hot flash. Estrogen helps tell our brain how to regulate our internal thermometer. As our levels fluctuate during menopause, our "thermoneutral zone" narrows, prompting our body’s thermostat to overreact to the slightest change in temperature.
80%
of women in menopause experience hot flashes
Is this normal?
You betcha. Hot flashes are one of the most common symptom of menopause. They can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, happen from 3 to 35 times a day, and continue for as long as 12 years.
What can you do?
You can meditate, carry a fan, and change your diet. But for most women, the most effective treatment calls for supplementing your body’s natural estrogen.
Head over to our product page to see what your options are. A menopause-trained physician will review your choices and let you know your best options. Start feeling better NOW!
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FAQ
What are menopausal hot flashes?
You know them. You hate them. We’re talking, of course, about hot flashes. If you haven’t experienced them, consider yourself lucky. But, (and we hate to tell you this) if you’re in menopause, chances are you will. They’re intense, they’re uncomfortable, and they’re also really, really common. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know and what you can expect.
Where do hot flashes come from?
What’s hot, prickly, and most intensely felt in your chest and neck? Yup, a hot flash. Basically, you have estrogen to thank for them. One of Estrogen’s jobs is to tell our brains how to regulate our internal thermometers. During menopause, your estrogen levels fluctuate, and as a result, the temperature range at which you feel comfortable, otherwise known as the “thermoneutral zone,” gets way smaller.
This means your body’s thermostat will overreact to even the slightest change in temperature, and you’ll feel really hot at seemingly random (and often inconvenient, awkward, insert-adjective-here) times. When you experience them at night (read: soaked-through pajamas and sheets), they’re called night sweats. In terms of discomfort, they can range from annoying to debilitating. But, you’re not alone.
So, other people get them too?
Yes! 80% of women in menopause experience hot flashes. They’re actually the most common symptom of menopause.
Got it. What can I expect?
Is it hot in here? Nope, just you. Hot flashes can be different for everyone, but to start, expect to feel hot. Hot flashes tend to come on suddenly and can last for as little as 30 seconds, or up to 10 minutes, and no matter how long they actually are, it can feel like forever. You may sweat, and your skin (especially the skin on your face) may turn red, almost as if you were blushing. They can happen as often as 35 times per day and can continue for as long as 12 years.
What can I do about hot flashes?
With hot flashes affecting most women in menopause, as you can imagine, there are lots of opinions on remedies and what may help. Here are the ones we hear most often:
- Deep breathing
- Changes in diet
- Dressing in layers (remove at the onset of a hot flash and add back accordingly)
- Meditation
- Carrying a fan
- Cutting back on caffeine and/or alcohol
While these things may help, for most women, the most effective treatment involves recalibrating your hormones and specifically, boosting your estrogen levels with Menopausal Hormone Treatment. Check out Alloy's hormonal solutions on our product page.