Several Ways to Relieve Menopause Hot Flashes

Menopause hot flashes are probably the first word that comes to our mind when we hear about menopause or premenopausal stage.  So whether you are going through hot flashes now, or are still waiting for your turn, here are ways that can help you to reduce the severity of hot flashes in case it will happen to you:

Consume Soy or Any Soy-based Foods

Several researches would suggest that soy have some benefits when it comes to reducing hot flashes as well as other symptoms related to it. But it is important that you get your soy from foods or drinks, rather than from health supplements. Foods that are known to be rich in soy are tofu, miso, soy milk, whole soybeans and soy powder.

Take Natural Progesterone

Natural progesterone is best known to provide relief for menopause hot flashes and all other symptoms of menopause in every woman. This is available over-the-counter and comes in the form of cream or capsule, and in a more traditional prescription forms. Ask your doctor about this and ask for a prescription.

Exercise Regularly

Make it a point to exercise at least 30 minutes of your time each day. You can walk, jog, ride a bicycle, or swim. But do not exercise within 3 hours of going to bed so to prevent night sweats.

Avoid Things That Could Trigger Hot Flashes

Dietary triggers that could lead to a bout of hot flashes are alcohol, caffeine, as well as cayenne and other spicy foods. You may feel that your hot flashes will be worse right after consuming these kinds of foods, so try to eliminate your intake of these kinds of foods do as not to trigger hot flashes.

Remember that hot flashes are more common during hot weather, so at this time of the year, always wear all cotton clothes to allow your skin to breathe. Always keep a fan nearby during hot weather season so as to reduce the number of menopause hot flashes that you get to experience.

Hot Flashes: Causes and Effects

Women that are going through the menopausal stage need to learn about hot flashes—causes and treatments. While most of them are able to get the information that they need from other women in their families who have gone through the same experiences, some are not satisfied with these hand me down tips. That is why there are many articles being posted online about this condition not only to give straight facts but also to help them cope with the changes brought about by menopause and its many symptoms. Apart from the Internet, there are also various books and magazines that can be obtained from bookstores that can help women deal with their changing bodies.

Learning about hot flashes—causes and treatments is easy, it’s actually dealing with them that is challenging especially if one does not have the support and understanding of one’s family and friends. There is no mistaking this experience, the sudden and intense feelings of heat on your face spreading quickly to the upper parts of your body causing minor to severe discomfort especially during the already warm summer days. And as if that wasn’t enough, hot flashes are usually followed by a rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness and anxiety plus a feeling of being suffocated and tired all of a sudden. No wonder lots of women do not like going through menopause, it’s inconvenient and definitely uncomfortable.

Hot flashes are brought about by hormonal changes which are due to the reproductive system slowing down and ultimately stopping its normal cycle for ovulation. It is perfectly normal although it cannot be avoided. Eighty five percent of the women in America going through their menopausal stage get hot flashes either in the middle of the day or even at night while they are sleeping. Knowing about them, hot flashes—causes and effects may just be your best bet in being able to handle them without breaking a sweat.

Hot Flashes Treatment and Relief

Hot flashes are one of the most uncomfortable menopausal symptoms that most women often complain about. Medical experts agree that the most common hot flashes treatment is by a procedure known as the estrogen replacement therapy, which is proven to be very effective in stopping hot flashes, although it was said that such procedure does not really promise instant cure.

Although it is not clear what really causes hot flashes, hormonal changes is said to be one of the things that could trigger hot flashes. Scientifically, the elevation of the hormones known as FSH and LH during and after the menopausal period is said to be the main culprit of this symptom. In an effort to lift up the decrease of estrogen levels, these hormones are said to be up to 1,300 percent greater during the menopausal years.

Hot flashes are being referred by medical professionals as the deficiency of estrogen and are usually triggered by a variety of stimulants. Among these are:

  • Acidic foods – These are foods that have high acidity level, like pickles, citrus, and tomatoes.
  • Alcoholic drinks – These are all kinds of alcoholic drinks, including wine and beer.
  • Anger, especially if you can’t express it
  • Caffeine – Caffeinated drinks like coffee, black tea, cola, and chocolate drinks.
  • Hot drinks
  • Hot tubs and saunas
  • Hot weather
  • Hydrogenated or saturated fats – Examples are meat and margarine.
  • Intense exercise, especially lovemaking
  • Spicy foods – Common examples of these spicy foods are cayenne, ginger and pepper.
  • Stress
  • Tobacco or marijuana
  • White sugar

Herbal remedies for women are also another effective means of hot flashes treatment. These include:

  1. Herbal plants that have the ability to cool the system. Examples are chickweed, elder and violet.
  2. Plants that could nourish and increase oxygen utilization in the liver, like the dong quai, dandelion, and yellow dock.
  3. Herbs that are rich in phytosterols, and one common example is the black cohosh.

Two Approaches to Hot Flashes Treatments

Patience is very important when it comes to looking for the best hot flashes treatment. This is because the duration and the frequency of hot flashes vary a lot, and it will even take some time before a woman could look for an adequate treatment to cure her hot flashes. Fortunately, there are now several effective ways to treat hot flashes. This article will tackle the two approaches of treatment for hot flashes – Change of Lifestyle and Alternative Medicine.

Change of Lifestyle

This is the first approach that a woman must consider on the first stage of hot flashes treatment. What’s great about this approach is the fact that it won’t cost you any amount of money. You simply need to discipline yourself and believe that you can change for the better, no matter how difficult it can be. Believe it or not, your daily behaviors will certainly make a significant impact into your experience of hot flashes. A good example is by staying away from eating anything spicy or having too many glasses of wine and servings of desserts. These types of foods can trigger hot flashes.

Alternative Medicine

Another approach is by the use of alternative medicines. This does not have any risk involve and it can be one of the most effective way to treat hot flashes. This approach involves several different therapies, although the most prominent is by the use of herbal remedies. In addition though, women may turn to acupuncture, massage, and hypnosis under this technique. All of these are possible options for alternative treatment of hot flashes, though most women consider herbal remedies as the easiest treatment to follow, since others require much of their time and effort. Furthermore, herbal remedies are the only practical option to treat hormonal imbalance brought by menopause.

Antidepressants for Hot Flashes Treatment

Several different kinds of antidepressants are being used as hot flashes treatment. Hot flashes is a condition that affects women on their menopausal period. These medications can also help treat a woman’s irritability, depression as well as moodiness, all symptoms of menopausal. They can be taken before and after the menopausal stage as it treats any symptoms that may occur during menopausal.

Hot flashes among elder women are nothing new. For several years now, women have been looking for ways on how to effectively treat hot flashes to help women who are experiencing menopausal. While there are several different kinds of remedy available for hot flashes, one medication that has piqued the interest of the people is the use of antidepressants to rid women of hot flashes.

Antidepressants therapy can also help both men and women that are suffering from hot flashes due to a recent cancer treatment. However, there is an exception to this, like if you are under the medication of tamoxifen, then you should avoid taking antidepressant pills. It is best to consult your doctor before you take any antidepressant medication.

People who have experienced having allergic reaction to the same kinds of medicines in the past are strongly discouraged to take antidepressants as hot flashes treatment.

The following are possible side effects when taking antidepressants as a remedy for hot flashes:

  • Anxiety and nervousness
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness and lightheadedness
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache
  • High blood pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Inability to achieve orgasm during sexual activity
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Nightmares

Other serious side effects due to the intake of antidepressants include allergic reaction, fast heart beat rate, blurred vision, insomnia, increased in blood pressure, and seizures. Since most antidepressants can possibly increase blood pressure, these medications should be used with proper caution, especially by women with high blood pressure, heart failure and glaucoma.

Antidepressants for Hot Flashes Treatment