Menopausal
women will kill for this
The Hot Flash and Hot Flashes
Here are the most common hot flash symptoms and methods for
dealing with Hot Flashes:
1. Sudden redness of the skin, commonly noticeable on the face and the
upper body.
2. Intense heat, despite the coolness within your environment. This
feeling is different than heat from outside the body - it feels like it
comes from within. The heat can vary between women, and even with hot
flash episodes. It may be gone after a few moments and then recur a few
minutes later.
3. Excessive sweating may be felt when you experience hot flash
symptoms. This is not the ordinary sweating common with heavy exercise.
Instead of hot sweats, you may go through cold sweats. This is
especially common during the night, when you may experience what are
usually called "night sweats."
4. Night sweats will often cause difficulty in getting a good night's
sleep.
Other accompanying hot flash symptoms apart from the above are:
1. Heart Palpitations 2. Nausea 3. Dizziness 4. Anxiety 5. Headaches 6.
Shortness of Breath
After experiencing redness of the face and upper body, a feeling of
severe and unexplainable hotness, as well as discomfort, is almost
certainly a hot flash when all of those symptoms end with a chill.
Experts say that a "chill" is often the culmination of a hot flash.
Hot flash symptoms vary from one person to another. To get an accurate
picture of your menopausal symptoms and their severity, it is a good
idea to keep a diary. You can record in your diary the times, length,
and severity of each symptom as it occurs.
Fortunately, most hot flash symptoms can be treated quite easily with a
combination of lifestyle changes and herbal medications. A first line of
defense is to eliminate spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and smoking. Make
sure you are eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and fresh
vegetables. Increase your exercise and practice deep breathing. Just
these steps alone will often greatly reduce hot flash symptoms.
If you are still suffering symptoms, try one of the many herbal remedies
for hot flashes that are readily available at most health food stores.
Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose Oil are herbs that are very effective
in reducing hot flash symptoms. Finally, consult with your doctor for
additional suggestions and help in navigating your journey through
menopause.
A Hot flash can range from mild hot spells at
night to constant dripping and sweating during the daytime. It starts
suddenly, with a rapid heartbeat, intense feeling of heat on your face
and upper body, and continues with possible headaches and nausea. It may
only last a short time but there is no mistaking the feeling of a hot
flash.
Hot flash is caused by a hormonal imbalance and estrogen loss. The loss
of estrogen causes the part of the brain that is responsible for your
body temperature to think that it is too hot. Your body in turn tries to
use the nervous system's chemical ability to relieve the heat by having
your heart beat faster, and using the perspiration to relieve the body
of the sudden warmth. It is essentially a way to cool you off even
though the feeling you are having is that it is heating you up.
As many as 85% of women have reported having a hot flash. But only about
10% to 15% of women have severe enough hot flashes that they need to
seek their doctors advice on how to handle them. Most women can just
make simple lifestyle changes such as layering their clothing, changing
their diet, and exercising on a regular basis.
If you do find that you need to turn to medication, or Hormone
Replacement Therapy, check out all your options. You may only need
Estrogen Therapy, or perhaps just a few natural solutions such as
vitamins or Black Cohosh, which is proven to be a natural relief
solution for hot flashes.
Relaxation and stress reduction techniques should be your first stop on
the way to being hot flash free. Yoga and meditation are excellent ways
to calm your body before and during a hot flash to make it seem more
tolerable. During the day make sure to keep an ice cold glass of water
nearby to cool you down during or before a hot flash. Another tip is to
lower the temperature wherever you are. This is where the layering of
clothes comes in - it helps with the many different temperatures you
will go through in a day.
Just as the old saying goes, this too shall pass. Although it may take 2
to 5 years on average, it will end. Just try to make it as bearable as
possible during this time and before you know it the symptoms of hot
flashes will disappear naturally with time