Women go through several transformations in their lives. The beginning of adulthood, when menstruation starts, pregnancy, and also the climacteric, the stage that closes all these cycles. And each of these transformations causes changes and generates side effects in every woman’s life, both physical and psychological. It is important to be prepared for these changes and to understand the transformations your body is going through. That’s why today we are going to talk about hot flashes, one of the main symptoms of menopause, the most well-known stage of the climacteric1. Want to know what they are, how to treat or prevent them? Check out everything in today’s article!
What are Hot Flashes?
Hot flashes are the well-known heat waves that affect women during menopause. This heat usually starts in the chest area and rises until it reaches the entire head. It is estimated that about 80% of women who go through menopause suffer from these symptoms. In some women, these heat waves are much more intense, even being mistaken for a fever at times2. During this phase, it’s common to have difficulty sleeping or to wake up sweating at night—the well-known night sweats. What’s distinctive is that this heat wave stops suddenly, giving a sensation of cold.
What are the Main Causes of Hot Flashes?
As we mentioned before, menopause is part of a natural process in every woman’s life and this involves certain changes that manifest as symptoms. These changes are always related to the hormone levels being produced by a woman’s body. During menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels start to drop more significantly. The body reacts in many ways, and one of them is this rise and fall in temperature sensation, which happens due to a confusion in the brain that ends up overreacting when trying to control body temperature. Despite this, hot flashes are not a cause for concern. As we’ve already said, they are very common and are part of every woman’s life. Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take certain steps to ensure they don’t interfere with your life.
Treatments for Hot Flashes
Some menopause treatments also help control hot flashes. Both hormone replacement therapy, which helps balance estrogen levels and make this bodily transition less turbulent, and natural remedies for hot flashes can produce great results. However, it’s important to be aware that, just as every body reacts differently to menopause, each will also react differently to treatments. It is also important to remember that talking to your doctor before trying any kind of treatment for hot flashes or menopause is extremely important. Only a professional can tell you what may work best for your body and if a treatment is really necessary. 
Is it Possible to Prevent Hot Flashes?
When a woman is close to going through menopause, there are several actions she can take to help prevent hot flashes and other symptoms that could affect her life. Some of the main ways to prevent them are:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Vitamin E
- Weight Loss
- Dietary Supplements
We will discuss each of these separately and explain how they can help prevent hot flashes.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help not only reduce hot flashes but also prevent them from getting worse or even from appearing at all3. This type of treatment aims to regulate a woman’s estrogen levels and to ease the effects of menopause. Remember, this type of treatment should be done with a trustworthy professional to avoid side effects.
Vitamin E
Several studies show that taking vitamin E can help reduce and prevent hot flashes during menopause4. However, you must be careful when taking this vitamin, since there can be side effects, such as an increased risk of stroke, for example. In this case, it’s highly recommended to talk to your doctor.
Weight Loss
Women with higher body fat have more chances of experiencing hot flashes than those with less body fat. That’s why planning weight loss strategies can be a great way to prevent these symptoms and prevent them from interfering with your life.
Dietary Supplements
As with vitamin E, soy-based dietary supplements can also be a great option to help prevent hot flashes. However, it’s also important to be careful with the amount consumed to avoid unwanted side effects. Hot flashes are a natural response of a woman’s body to the changes that occur during menopause. Of course, trying to get rid of them is always an option, especially since these symptoms are bothersome and often really interfere with someone’s life. However, it’s important to know exactly how you want to prevent or treat hot flashes and to always make sure that it won’t harm your health in other ways. After all, the goal is to get through this stage in a calm way and not create other problems.
