Gynecology And Obstetrics-

Menopausal hot flashes

introduction

During the menopause (medical jargon: climacteric) there can be a sudden increase in body temperature.

The affected person is then suddenly warm or even really hot. In this context, many also get sweats or show reddening of the skin. The symptoms just described are summarized under the term hot flashes. It is a typical symptom that occurs especially at the beginning of menopause. Because of their early onset, hot flashes are sometimes seen as “heralds” of menopause.

causes

Doctors suspect that the hot flashes in menopause are related to the autonomic nervous system. It is a part of the nervous system that humans cannot consciously access - but which reacts to the hormonal changes in the body.

The small blood vessels in the body are controlled by this part of the nervous system, among other things. If the onset of menopause causes hormone fluctuations or falls, this can lead to a reaction in the blood vessels. The vessels then suddenly widen, which leads to a rise in temperature and is also accompanied by reddening of the skin. Furthermore, the pores in the skin open and sweat comes out. The reaction takes place within a few seconds and, to the suffering of those affected, can show up several times a day or at night.

You can read about other reasons for hot flashes in the following article: Causes of Hot Flashes

Concomitant symptoms

In addition to hot flashes, a variety of other symptoms can occur. These include headache and back pain as well as dizziness.

Sleep disorders are typical for menopause, which can also be caused by hot flashes occurring at night. Another important feature is a change in the menstrual period. Menstruation is usually more irregular or less frequent and is associated with longer or heavier bleeding. Some women also have intermenstrual bleeding.

The hormone fluctuations are also noticeable in the vaginal environment. Many women report vaginal dryness during menopause caused by the lack of estrogen. Weight gain is also a typical symptom. Furthermore, there can be complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, which are also caused by the hormonal change. Hair loss can also manifest itself in the context of menopausal symptoms. In some women, the hormonal change also affects the complexion, it appears less plump than before and can be accompanied by increased wrinkling.

The mood can also be influenced. As in puberty, some women experience mood swings, nervousness and / or restlessness due to hormone changes.

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high blood pressure

Pre-menopausal women are far less likely to have high blood pressure than men. However, this suddenly changes with the onset of the menopause: Due to the hormonal change, a large number of women develop high blood pressure.

Estrogen, a hormone that is involved in important control processes in the female cycle, also has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. As this hormone drops, its protective function ceases and women become more prone to developing high blood pressure. Severe high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to hot flashes and reddening of the skin or increased sweating. If women suffer from hot flashes during menopause, blood pressure should always be monitored as a trigger.

therapy

If the hot flashes during the menopause are a heavy burden for the affected women, hormone replacement therapy can be considered. Here, the body is supplied with hormones, especially estrogen and progestin, which can lead to an improvement in symptoms.

Such hormone preparations are available in many different dosage forms, as plasters, creams or tablets. Therapy with estrogen preparations generally requires detailed advice from the gynecologist, as their use can be associated with a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer. The advantages and disadvantages of taking a hormone replacement product should therefore be carefully weighed together with the doctor.

In addition to taking medication, many women also use herbal remedies. These include black cohosh and monk's pepper. Both remedies are said to have an effect on the hormonal balance and thus reduce hot flashes.

Home remedies

There are some home remedies that can be used if you experience hot flashes during menopause.

Above all, there is sufficient exercise and a healthy diet. Coffee and alcohol should be left out, these can affect the estrogen level and thus favor the symptoms. The same applies to nicotine, which also has a rather unfavorable effect and should be left out at best. Physical activity has a positive effect on weight and mood, but it has also been shown that women who exercise regularly are less likely to struggle with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

The sage plant is one of the home remedies for treating hot flashes. This can be prepared as a tea or, if necessary, purchased as a preparation in the pharmacy. Red clover and black cohosh are also said to help against menopausal symptoms. Both herbal remedies are said to have a soothing effect on heat attacks due to their effect on the hormonal balance. Red clover can be made as a tea.

Simple measures that are easy to implement at home also include adequate ventilation and adjusting the room temperature. For everyday use, it is also worthwhile to wear good, air-permeable clothing when you have hot flashes. Instead of synthetic fibers, women should prefer natural fabrics such as cotton when they have hot flashes. These are breathable and less often lead to unpleasant odors in clothing when sweating occurs, as sometimes happens when wearing synthetic fabrics.

homeopathy

There are some homeopathic remedies that are said to have a relieving effect on menopausal symptoms.

The remedies Sepia, Lachesis and Sulfur are particularly suitable for treating hot flashes. In addition to the positive influence on hot flashes, they are also said to have a soothing effect on other typical symptoms of menopause such as headaches, vaginal dryness or sleep disorders.

Furthermore, Phosphorus and Calcium carbonicum can be used to treat heat attacks. These should also have a positive effect on blood pressure at the same time.

acupuncture

Acupuncture is used by many women to treat annoying menopausal symptoms, including those with hot flashes.

There are many women among the users who report an improvement in their symptoms after repeated use. There are also some studies that deal with the subject. Here, too, many women reported a reduction in their hot flashes with acupuncture therapy. However, the group of study participants without “proper acupuncture” also benefited from the treatment. These also indicated “less severe symptoms” after repeated treatments. Unfortunately, there is therefore no clear evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for hot flashes.

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diagnosis

When hot flashes occur, the affected women usually consult a doctor. This usually asks about other symptoms that typically occur during menopause. For example, after a missed period, headache, sleep disorders etc. Based on the anamnesis (discussion with the patient to find the cause of a symptom), an initial assessment can be made of whether the hot flashes are menopausal symptoms.

The conversation is usually followed by a physical examination, which primarily serves to rule out other causes that could be responsible for the hot flashes.

Course of disease

The majority of women suffer from hot flashes as they go through menopause. However, especially before the onset of menopause or at the beginning, they can be very pronounced and those affected literally suffer from sudden heat attacks. In a large number of cases, however, the hot flashes disappear again at the latest at the end of the menopause.

Duration

Hot flashes usually only last a few minutes. Unfortunately for women, they usually occur several times throughout the day and also throughout the night.

Hot flashes are often an “early or introductory” symptom of menopause. In many women they subside during the menopause. In about 1/3 of those affected, the hot flashes persist through the entire period of menopause. Hormone replacement therapy can be considered for severe stress from hot flashes. In the best case, this leads to symptom relief and even the disappearance of the hot flashes.

Read more about that in our main article Duration of hot flashes