Conventional and Alternative Hot Flashes Treatments

Dec 31, 2018 by Lauren H.

When discussing menopause, every woman will definitively mention hot flashes. This is one of the most commonly experienced and potentially most troublesome issues during menopause. Those who are lucky endure mild problems with heat and sweating which last up to a year or two. However, some suffer from much greater and much lengthier hot flashes that get even worse as time goes by.

 

What causes hot flashes?

Hormonal changes in the female body are to be blamed for the heat and sweating women experience during a hot flash. The significant decrease in the amount of the female sexual hormone estrogen found in the body affects the area in the brain (the hypothalamus) which controls the temperature of the body. The hypothalamus does not function properly and as the end as a result a woman experiences hot flashes and similar menopausal symptoms.

Women often describe hot flashes as the heat they feel in the face and upper part of the body, in some cases preceded by cold sensation. During a hot flash episode many females notice a change in the color of their skin, and their face becomes reddish, because of the heat. Profuse sweating, lightheadedness, headaches and sickness also very commonly accompany the attack during menopause. Women can experience significantly increased body temperatures, nervousness and certain weakness. There are cases when the individual thinks she is having a heart attack, especially if the sweating is combined with choking or irregular heartbeats.

The intensity and duration of hot flashes are unpredictable and many women seek medical help to cope with more serious symptoms. One can choose between traditional therapy and natural hot flashes treatment.

 

Treating hot flashes

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a traditional approach to menopausal symptoms. The therapy is based on the substitution of hormones the female body lacks during menopause, which are considered to be the main cause of hot flashes in the first place. HRT replaces the estrogen and progesterone the female body needs and this positively affects the problems associated with menopause, such as mood changes, anxiety, sleeping problems and hot flashes. This treatment is known to help many menopausal women, but it involves certain health risks. Smokers, women using oral contraceptives or any other substances rich in estrogen are exposed to greater risk of blood clots when using this hot flashes treatment. Other significant adverse effects include the increased risk of:

• deep vein thrombosis
• heart disease
• stroke
• pulmonary embolism
• endometiral cancer
• breast cancer

 

Smoking cessation is found to decrease all HRT health risks, while a combination of estrogen and progesterone is shown to lower the risk of endometrial cancer. Using creams and patches of replacement hormones could prevent blood clots.

Natural hot flashes treatments are getting more popular these days. A healthy diet and the use of herbs instead of prescription medications may bring the same results, but without any severe side effects drugs have. A balanced diet, avoidance of potential hot flash triggers such as alcohol and caffeinated drinks and a proper amount of physical activity could ease or completely relieve menopausal troubles in some women.