Very often, women experience hot flashes during perimenopause and menopause. But there are frequent cases of sudden onset of a feeling of heat in young women. This symptom causes significant discomfort, and in some cases can even disrupt the usual rhythm of life. What are the symptoms of hot flashes during menopause, what is it, and how to deal with it? First things first.
Hot flashes are familiar to many representatives of the fairer sex, regardless of age, but most often a woman experiences such an unpleasant symptom after 45 years.
What are hot flashes during menopause? They look like a sudden attack in which the woman feels intense heat in the upper half of the body. These attacks can vary in intensity. Their duration varies from several seconds to several minutes.
Hot flashes in women can occur in different times days. It is quite difficult for those women who experience this condition at night. In this case, sleep disturbance and insomnia may occur. In this regard, the general condition of the body is disrupted; in severe cases, symptoms may occur. chronic fatigue and exhaustion.
But it is possible to get rid of hot flashes during menopause; to do this, you need to consult a doctor and follow all his recommendations.
Causes of hot flashes in women over 45 years of age
During menopause, hot flashes most often occur due to hormonal imbalance in the body. As women age, ovarian function gradually declines. The levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease significantly, which leads to disruption of communication between the brain (namely the hypothalamus and pituitary gland) and the ovaries. Thermoregulation is disrupted, so the woman periodically begins to feel a sudden warmth that falls on her.
The causes of hot flashes in women are not limited to hormonal imbalances. Experts identify a number of provoking factors leading to the development of this condition:
- prolonged stay in a stuffy room or outdoors under the hot sun;
- unstable emotional state, frequent stress, excessive physical, mental and mental stress;
- hot baths, baths and saunas;
- passion for hot and spicy dishes;
- acclimatization;
- wearing excessively warm or tight clothing that restricts movement;
- compliance strict diets aimed at weight loss;
- use of drugs for weight loss, antidepressants;
- presence of bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking).
If any of the above factors are present in a woman’s life, the frequency of hot flashes increases.
Causes of hot flashes in young women
The causes of hot flashes in women, in addition to menopause, are also very diverse. Young women also sometimes experience hot flashes, which can be frightening. The first thought that comes to women’s minds is the onset of early menopause. But it's not that simple. In fact, in this case there may be various reasons.
Hot flashes may occur due to the factors listed above or the presence of a medical condition.
- Changes in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Hot flashes are most characteristic of hyperthyroidism, that is, an increase in the amount of thyroid hormones. In this condition, symptoms characteristic of menopause are noted: absence of menstruation, hot flashes, increased sweating at night. Hypofunction (hypothyroidism) is characterized by hot flashes, but they are not very intense.
- VSD ( vegetative-vascular dystonia). This pathological condition often occurs in women with an anxious type of character. VSD is a hereditary pathology.
- Diabetes mellitus type 2.
- Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal glands, which causes hot flashes, increased blood pressure, arrhythmias and increased nervous excitability.
- Malignant tumors of the brain, stomach and intestines.
- Tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS.
- There may be a feeling of intense heat side effect some medicines. Before using the drugs, you must carefully study the instructions for use.
Symptoms
Many women feel feverish during menopause. But their feelings may be different. Some representatives of the fair sex easily and even unnoticed suffer from hot flashes, while others experience a disturbance in their general condition, absent-mindedness and drowsiness. What does this depend on?
The severity of the condition depends on the severity of the symptoms and the frequency of their occurrence. There are three degrees of severity of hot flashes.
- With mild severity, hot flashes last a few seconds and occur up to five times a day. There is a feeling of warmth on the body that does not cause discomfort. Women often do not pay attention to hot flashes of such intensity. General condition doesn't suffer.
- Moderate hot flashes last 1–15 minutes. The attack is accompanied by a feeling of warmth of medium intensity (moderate heat), thirst and dry mouth, and a small amount of sweat. Such attacks occur up to 10 times a day, not every day. When the heat subsides, the skin becomes moist and cool.
- Severe hot flashes last up to 30 minutes. There is hyperemia of the upper half of the body, the woman feels a rush of blood to the head. Body temperature rises significantly, breathing problems (shortness of breath) are observed. Often hot flashes of this intensity are accompanied by a state of panic and increased anxiety. When the fever subsides, a feeling of nausea, headache, and increased anxiety remains. The woman feels exhausted. The general condition suffers.
If attacks occur at night, the woman may experience a feeling of fear, and problems with sleep are often noted. Because of this, during the day there is increased drowsiness, fatigue, lethargy, and in some cases even apathy.
Depression can develop due to constant feelings of anxiety and fear. A woman is afraid of an attack and, accordingly, its consequences in public places.
How else does menopause manifest itself?
In addition to hot flashes, there are other signs that are characteristic of menopause:
- sleep disturbance;
- hypertension;
- increased tearfulness and irritability;
- headaches;
- absence of menstruation.
More intense hot flashes, which disrupt general well-being, are observed in patients who have undergone removal of the uterus and appendages, malignant tumor mammary glands exposed to radiation and chemotherapy. The attacks become daily and painful. In this case, it’s worth thinking about how to get rid of hot flashes.
Treatment
In severe cases, there are all indications for replacement therapy. Hormonal pills for menopause against hot flashes will help get rid of other unpleasant symptoms that accompany this condition. However, do not forget that these drugs have quite a few contraindications:
- Self-medication in this case is strictly prohibited. Hormonal medicine is prescribed only after a complete and thorough diagnosis (cytological, ultrasound and laboratory examination).
- Hormonal drugs during menopause should not be taken if there is a risk of malignant neoplasms.
- Blood and liver diseases are also an absolute contraindication for this type of treatment.
What to do if hormonal therapy is contraindicated?
If hot flashes occur during menopause, treatment without hormones is carried out as follows:
- Dietary supplements, medicinal herbs and products with phytoestrogens (for example, Feminal). Before use, you should consult a specialist.
- It is necessary to select and take vitamin complexes.
- Preparations with a sedative effect (extract of valerian, motherwort) must be taken in case of increased nervous and mental arousal.
- Homeopathy. These drugs help reduce the manifestation of an unpleasant symptom. Klimaktoplan and Klimadinon are often prescribed.
Simple ways to help get rid of hot flashes
A number of simple steps will also help you get rid of hot flashes during menopause:
- Drink plenty of cold or cold water. A woman should carry cold water with her to stop an attack if it occurs outside the home.
- Exercises will help ease or completely get rid of hot flashes physical culture. These should be moderate loads. You can do yoga, race walking, light jogging, or just do gymnastics every day for half an hour.
- Maintain the temperature in the room. During the day, the temperature should not exceed 21 degrees, at night it should not exceed 18 degrees.
- A cool shower will help get rid of a hot flash that has developed.
- You should give preference to clothes made from natural materials. Cotton items allow air to pass through well. Layering in your wardrobe is encouraged so that you can take something off at the right time.
- Adhere to certain rules in nutrition.
Nutrition
Doctors advise adjusting your diet. Sometimes it is enough to eat right and follow the recommendations described above to get rid of hot flashes. The diet must include fruits, vegetables and herbs, many of which contain phytohormones. These substances are estrogen substitutes.
Products that should be present in every woman's diet:
- nuts, cereals, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds;
- vegetables: lettuce, cabbage of all types, spinach, greens, carrots, garlic, asparagus;
- honey, which will be an excellent substitute for confectionery;
- fruits and dried fruits (dates, raisins, citrus fruits, pomegranate);
- vegetable oils;
- legumes;
- fish;
- melons (watermelon, melon).
It is necessary to avoid foods that increase body temperature: spices, fried and spicy foods, red meat. Drinks containing caffeine also contribute to the frequent occurrence of hot flashes. You can drink water, juices, herbal teas.
Definition
Hot flashes are episodic attacks of redness of the skin with a feeling of warmth or burning in the face and neck and, less commonly, the upper torso and abdomen. Short duration is the main difference between hot flashes and persistent erythema during photosensitivity or acute contact reactions. Prolonged repeated hot flashes lead to the formation of telangiectasia and sometimes classic facial rosacea.
Reasons
Due to estrogen deficiency, most peri- and postmenopausal women experience hot flashes. However, you need to be aware that hot flashes can have other causes.
- Physiological redness or paleness is observed with anger, embarrassment, drinking hot drinks or staying in a hot room.
- Menopausal hot flashes occur in peri- and postmenopausal women. Sometimes they are accompanied by chills and sweating. Vasomotor symptoms include palpitations. The mechanism of development is pulsatile secretion of increasing amounts of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which causes peripheral vasodilation, especially of the skin.
- Hot flashes may be a symptom of an undiagnosed systemic disease:
- carcinoid syndrome;
- Mastocytosis is a benign proliferative disease of the reticuloendothelial system, which is in the nature of a hyperplastic process rather than a tumor. Patients with mastocytosis report episodic bright red flushes that are accompanied by headache, shortness of breath, wheezing, palpitations, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and syncope. With cutaneous mastocytosis, hot flashes usually last more than 30 minutes, and with typical carcinoid syndrome and menopause - less than 10 minutes;
- chronic basophilic myelocytic leukemia.
- Taste flushes are associated with the intake of certain foods or supplements. These include the following:
- alcohol with aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency;
- hot drinks;
- spicy and sour foods;
- red pepper;
- sulfites (food additives);
- histamine poisoning with fish (when eating spoiled tuna, mackerel).
- Hot flashes associated with taking certain medicines/ vitamins are:
- vasodilators - nitroglycerin, prostaglandins;
- all calcium channel blockers;
- nicotinic acid;
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
- cholinergic drugs (metrifonate, anthelmintic drugs).
- Hot flashes associated with alcohol:
- fermented alcoholic drinks(beer, sherry), which may contain tyramine or histamine;
- occupational hot flashes in workers who drink beer after exposure to technical solvents (vapors of trichlorethylene, carbon disulfide, xylene, etc.);
- genetic sensitivity in Asians and American Indians;
- carcinoid hot flashes (alcohol-induced);
- hot flashes with mastocytosis.
- Dumping syndrome, usually after gastric surgery.
- Auriculotemporal nerve syndrome (Frey's syndrome) after parotid surgery, trauma, infection, or damage to the facial nerve from herpes zoster.
- Harlequin syndrome - hot flashes and sweating on half of the face with or without a feeling of warmth and anhidrosis (lack of sweating) of the extremities on the opposite side. Occurs in lung cancer, Pancoast syndrome (cancer of the apex of the lung with damage to adjacent structures) and Horner's syndrome.
- Hot flashes in neurological diseases:
- spinal cord damage;
- migraine;
- Parkinson's disease;
- brain tumors - secondary to a rapid increase in intracranial pressure;
- hot flashes during emotional stress and somatized stress disorders (for example, anxiety);
- menopausal hot flashes;
- cholinergic erythema.
- Familial monoamine oxidase deficiency.
- In women receiving anticancer treatment, especially cytotoxic drugs.
- In men receiving antiandrogen treatment.
- Rosacea is seen in patients with persistent, long-lasting hot flashes; it is a manifestation, not a cause.
Symptoms
A typical hot flash begins with a feeling of warmth in the head, scalp and face, accompanied by redness that may extend down to the neck and other parts of the body towards the legs. It may be accompanied by chills. During a hot flash, body temperature rises and the pulse quickens, then there is a decrease in temperature and profuse sweating. Visible changes are observed in approximately 50% of women. The tide lasts from a few seconds to 5 minutes. The frequency of hot flashes ranges from once an hour to several times a week, or they occur sporadically.
Diagnostics
During the initial examination of a patient with hot flashes, it is necessary to find out the following details.
The nature of the tides. Frequency and severity of hot flashes. Are they focal or confluent, what color, are they accompanied by cyanosis or pallor? The impact of hot flashes on personality, quality of life, work, sleep and/or rest. In case of menopausal hot flashes, contraindications for HRT (hormone replacement therapy) are determined and any doubts the woman has in this regard are clarified. Determination of provoking or facilitating factors. In patients with mastocytosis and medullary thyroid cancer, hot flashes are triggered by alcohol intake. With auriculotemporal nerve syndrome, gustatory sweating occurs after eating any food. In patients with familial monoamine oxidase inhibitor deficiency, sweating occurs after eating certain foods and emotional stress. In the case of Harlequin syndrome, this occurs after physical activity. During menopause, sweating is triggered by any of these factors, exposure to hot or humid conditions and confined spaces.
Identification of any contributing or related factors . Determine the appearance of sweating and palpitations during hot flashes. To exclude systemic and other causes of hot flashes, the manifestations of diseases of the respiratory, digestive (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) systems, hypertension, hypotension, headache, fever, urticaria or facial swelling are determined.
Exclusion of food etiology. If, after analysis of a 2-week food diary, the diagnosis remains unclear, the patient is prescribed an elimination diet with the exclusion of foods rich in histamine, foods and medications that affect the determination of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the urine, as well as foods and drinks that cause hot flashes. With the complete disappearance of hot flashes, excluded foods are sequentially introduced into the diet, identifying the causative factor. However, if hot flashes persist, further metabolic testing is indicated.
In addition, biochemical tests, blood and urine tests, and determination of FSH levels are also performed.
Prevention
The gold standard for treating hot flashes during menopause, estrogens are the only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hot flashes during menopause. However, a woman may have contraindications to such treatment, she may be prejudiced against HRT (hormone replacement therapy), or she may stop taking estrogen due to intolerable side effects.
Placebo. Taking placebo for 4 weeks. can lead to a 20-50% reduction in hot flashes.
Hormonal therapy. Used: estrogens (CEE, 17p-estradiol and estradiol valerate) combined estrogen-progestogen drugs.
Non-hormonal treatment. I use antidepressants.
Non-drug treatment methods. The following are used with varying success: behavioral therapy; relaxation training; cognitive behavioral therapy and distraction techniques; progressive muscle relaxation, biological feedback or auto-training; hypnosis; acupuncture; deep breathing - rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation of all muscle groups; problematic approach.
Lifestyle changes. To reduce the intensity and frequency of tides, certain measures are taken. All women should know and apply them. They include:
- exclusion of trigger factors - stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and drinks;
- quitting smoking;
- stress relief - practical meditation, yoga, massage, rhythmic breathing;
- staying in a cool room, avoiding warm places; maintaining low temperature environment, drinking cold drinks, bathing in cold water, using a fan, cotton bedding, multi-layered clothing;
A person’s full life directly depends on the balance of hormones in his body, including sex hormones. The main hormone is produced in the gonads of men male hormone- testosterone. During puberty, its constant production begins and continues until the extinction of sexual function. With age, the production of this hormone slows down, leading to disruption in the functioning of the autonomic and central nervous systems and endocrine glands. As a result, men experience dyshormonal disorders - climatic neurosis (menopause), in which hot flashes occur.
Hot flashes: causes, symptoms
Speaking about such a phenomenon as hot flashes, we can remember the fairer sex during their menopause, because such phenomena always happen at this time. Men are no exception in this case. However, menopause is only one of the possible reasons occurrence of tides. This symptom is also typical for:
- obesity;
- dysfunction of the cardiovascular system;
- atherosclerosis;
- arterial hypertension.
Flushing to the head can also occur in completely healthy people in extreme heat, during stressful situations, especially if they smoke, drink alcohol, work a lot, take certain medications, or are elderly.
A rush of blood is almost always accompanied strong feeling heat, which is observed throughout the body. This may result in a slight rise in temperature, flushing of the face and increased sweating.. In some cases, you may experience:
- difficulty breathing;
- tinnitus;
- anxiety attack;
- visual impairment (flickering in the eyes).
Treatment of menopause in men
When hot flashes occur as the main symptom of male menopause, you need to think about your health and lifestyle. In some cases, changing your lifestyle, daily routine, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, proper nutrition will help get rid of feeling unwell. In addition, you definitely need to undergo examination by a specialist, because the presence of unpleasant symptoms may indicate not only problems associated with sexual life, but also various diseases of the cardiovascular system.
The doctor may order certain tests, blood tests and an ultrasound of the prostate, which can reveal . Based on the results of the examination, a man may be prescribed various pharmaceuticals, including hormonal medications, biogenic adaptogens, sedatives and antidepressants.
Can also be assigned medicines reserpine group. In this case, treatment should be carried out under the control of blood pressure and heart rate, because bradycardia and low blood pressure may occur.
Treatment of hot flash syndrome with folk remedies
In the treatment of male menopause, folk remedies that are aimed at normalizing blood pressure and reducing blood flow to the head and hands have proven themselves to be quite good.
Folk remedies can be used together with drug treatment.
To the most effective folk remedies include:
It should be remembered that a healthy person who is not overweight, heart disease or psycho-emotional disorders practically does not experience such a phenomenon as a hot flash.
Having entered menopause, women often face characteristic features this phenomenon. Night hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes bother women at the most inopportune moments in life, and of course, they are most difficult to bear at night, interrupting rest and sleep. This symptom does not allow you to get a good night's sleep, and the lack of proper rest can lead to more intense manifestations of other signs of menopause and worsen your overall well-being. But it is important to understand that hot flashes are a natural phenomenon. female body and almost no one can avoid it. Therefore, the best solution would be to properly prepare for this sign. Subsequently, this will help ease the tolerance of sudden night heat or reduce the frequency of their occurrence.
How do tides appear at night?
The tides at night are not much different in their characteristics from the tides at daytime, but some women claim that they can be longer lasting and more intense. Tides at night are accompanied by:
- sudden heat that engulfs top part bodies;
- redness of the skin (face, neck and hands);
- rapid heartbeat;
- dilation of blood vessels;
- a feeling of panic or fear, a feeling of excitement;
- chills and oxygen starvation;
- increased blood pressure;
- headache.
Avalanche-like attacks of heat occur at any time of the day, but are especially annoying at night. When sleep is interrupted by a sudden fever, anxiety and a feeling of fear arise, a feeling of depression, and chills appear. Hot flashes at night lead to unpleasant consequences: from a banal awakening in a bed wet with sweat to tormenting insomnia. The overexcitement felt during this symptom is the reason that does not allow you to relax and continue sleep. Hot flashes may be more noticeable at night due to physical fatigue per day and emotional stress. A stuffy room, tight underwear or heavy food are also factors that increase hot flashes at night.
This symptom of menopause significantly reduces physical and psychological capabilities, since due to lack of sleep a woman does not receive the necessary charge of energy, her performance decreases, nervousness and social withdrawal appear. Lack of regular sleep increases the risk of developing diseases associated with decreased vascular elasticity. Against the background of frequent insomnia, the problem may make itself felt excess weight or high blood sugar. There is a high probability of climacteric disorder or depression. Find out also how to deal with insomnia during menopause in one of our articles.
Duration and frequency of the main symptom of menopause
The frequency of the tides covered and their duration are purely individual. Some women easily tolerate this symptom, others note the appearance various diseases, sooner or later requiring medical care. Women who artificially accelerated the onset of menopause, or those suffering from early menopause, experience frequent occurrence of hot flashes, as well as their longer duration.
Why is this happening?
Changes in hormonal levels are the main cause of hot flashes. A lack of the hormone estrogen (progesterone) gives false signals and changes the usual connection between the ovaries and the hypothalamus (the part of the brain responsible for thermoregulation). Hot flashes during menopause are the body’s reaction to overheating. The hypothalamus incorrectly perceives the actual body temperature and tries to regulate it. As a result, increased sweating occurs, the heartbeat accelerates, blood vessels dilate, blood pressure increases, and all the symptoms corresponding to hot flashes appear.
How to prevent nighttime menopausal symptoms?
To prevent frequent night hot flashes, follow these recommendations::
- Don't eat a lot before bed. Eliminate spicy, fatty, heavy foods from your diet. Three to four hours before bedtime, it is better not to eat anything.
- Do not drink alcohol and give up the bad habit of smoking.
- Take a non-hot bath or shower. It is better if the water is slightly cool.
- It is better not to overwork yourself with physical and mental stress before bed.
- You should let your nervous system relax before going to bed.
- Enjoy free underwear from natural materials.
- Choose a lighter blanket to avoid overheating your body at night.
- Have a waterproof container filled with ice to keep the pillow cool.
If, using these methods, the desired relief does not occur, you can try to combat the symptoms of menopause with the help of pills. Hormonal medications will normalize the level of progesterone in the blood and reduce the frequency of hot flashes.
Drug treatment
How to treat hot flashes? There are several medications that can treat the symptoms of hot flashes:
Hormonal drugs
When choosing a hormonal drug for treatment, it is important to undergo a preliminary examination to determine the balance of hormones. Based on the results, your doctor will prescribe the correct dosage of progesterone. Never take medications without a doctor's prescription. The prescription is carried out by a specialist, since self-medication can harm your body and lead to irreversible consequences.
Drugs to stabilize blood pressure
The most noticeable consequence of hot flashes is a sudden increase in blood pressure. Means to stabilize it are also prescribed by the doctor and should not be chosen independently.
Antidepressants
Small doses of antidepressants during menopause may be prescribed to help relax nervous system. This drug treatment prescribed to women whose emotional state is overly influenced by the signs of menopause.
Sedatives
These are the mildest drugs for calming the nervous system and reducing stress levels. Attributed to women due to anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
Additional information regarding remedies for hot flashes during menopause can be found in one of our articles.
Traditional medicine against night hot flashes
Traditional medicine plays an important role in the fight against ailments during menopause in women. Recipes that we inherited from our grandmothers and are based on natural ingredients must still be used wisely. You should take into account the physiological state of the body and focus on its individual characteristics.
Drug therapy is not suitable for everyone; in addition, it can contribute to the appearance of extra pounds. Traditional therapy is aimed at eliminating or alleviating the symptoms of menopause. The most popular medicinal herbal teas, decoctions and infusions.
For example, sage compensates for estrogens in a woman’s body and helps balance hormones. On the Internet you can find several recipes for teas and infusions with sage, but do not forget that all herbs have their contraindications. Contraindications to the use of this herb are diabetes and nephritis.
One more medicinal herb, which normalizes the balance of hormones - horsetail. Contraindications for use horsetail renal failure and urolithiasis.
Natural antidepressants include mint, chamomile, valerian, lemon balm, oregano and linden. Tea from any of the listed plants will help you relax, relieve tension, and cope with insomnia, which is very important in the fight against night hot flashes.
Herbal pads or aromatic oils sometimes help with insomnia.
How to help yourself if the rush of night heat has already begun?
First of all, don't panic. Try to calm down and start breathing deeply and slowly. Try to alleviate the condition by fanning yourself with an ordinary fan, which you prepare in advance by the bed. You can open the window slightly to have access to fresh air. Some women find it helpful to massage the depression in the chin under the lower lip. Massage the point for a couple of minutes clockwise. You can also take a couple of sips of cool water.
General recommendations for preventing hot flashes at night
In addition to the recommendations and tips that have been listed to reduce the frequency and sensitivity of the symptom, you can take some measures to prevent hot flashes that occur at night. Here are some general recommendations that will improve your well-being during menopause:
Moderate physical activity
It is very important to maintain physical activity in women at 40 years of age. Exercising helps relieve stress and tension. This is especially important during depression. Many women choose yoga to reduce the symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes will be less acute if you spend some time exercising, and physical activity can delay osteoporosis, stabilize blood pressure, and avoid cardiovascular disease.
Healthy eating
An excellent preventative against the symptoms of hot flashes is eating foods rich in calcium. This includes milk, eggs, some vegetables and cereals, and fish. It is not recommended to drink coffee, especially at night.
Fluid intake
The amount of liquid you drink should be increased to two liters, but you should not drink a lot before going to bed.
The described situation is familiar to many women over 45 years of age. This is how very unpleasant “fellow travelers” appear - tides. Is it possible to reduce their intensity and frequency?
Tides - what are they?
Hot flashes are considered to be a feeling of heat that falls like an avalanche on the face and upper body. They are accompanied by rapid redness of the entire face, neck, hands (due to dilation of the capillaries), a sharp increase in heart rate, lack of fresh air, profuse sweating, dizziness, weakness, and sometimes hand tremors. All these phenomena can last from several minutes to half an hour. A woman is sometimes overcome by anxiety, fear, and depression. The attack ends as suddenly as it began. After feeling hot, profuse cold sweat and chilliness may appear. Hot flashes occur at any time of the day. Night hot flashes can also lead to a wet bed from sweat. During menopause, approximately 80% of women suffer from hot flashes. There are lovely ladies who do not feel hot flashes, but experience other symptoms of menopause: irritability, tearfulness, headaches, surges in blood pressure, difficulty falling asleep. The first appearance, duration, severity, and frequency of hot flashes are all very individual. For some women, these “harbingers” make themselves known several years before the onset of menopause and last for two to three years, and then slowly subside. A third of women have been bothered by these phenomena for seven to ten years. Some women experience hot flashes only a couple of times a month, but others experience them daily (or hourly). It is believed that menopause occurs easily if less than 10 hot flashes occur per day; average - if there are less than 20 tides, but if there are more than 20, then this is already a severe current. 10-15% of women who experience severe and painful hot flashes require special treatment. It has been noted that more intense and frequent attacks of fever are experienced by those who have suffered breast cancer or early, artificial menopause (due to removal of the ovaries, uterus, chemotherapy, exposure to radiation). For women for whom hot flashes make life very difficult, prevent them from sleeping normally at night, and significantly reduce their performance during the day, MirSovetov recommends visiting a gynecologist-endocrinologist to get the treatment recommendations you need.
Your doctor may advise you to take homeopathic or other medicines that contain natural ingredients, for example, “Klimadinon”, “Klimaksan”, “Klimaktoplan”, “Klimakt-hel”, “Klimakterin”, “Remens”, “Feminalgin”, “Femicaps”, “Estrovel”, “”. The issue of hormone replacement therapy is also within the competence of the gynecologist, because it has many contraindications and serious side effects.
Causes
Doctors believe the main reason is a significant decrease in the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the blood. As a result, the connection between the hypothalamic-pituitary system and the ovaries is disrupted. This leads to disruption of the normal functioning of the thermoregulation center in the brain. It has not yet been fully studied exactly how the lack of sex hormones produced by declining ovaries affects the regulation of body temperature. But the factors influencing the intensity and frequency of recurrences of hot flashes are known to scientists. Tidal phenomena can be triggered by:
- Excessive emotional as well as mental and physical activity, overwork, constant fatigue.
- Frequent visits to baths, saunas, long stay in a hot bath.
- Stuffy room, hot weather.
- Wearing shapewear, tight and too warm clothes.
- A sharp change in climatic conditions.
- Eating hot, spicy, very richly spiced food.
- Constantly being on strict diets, especially when there is no protein in the dishes.
- Taking weight loss pills and antidepressants.
In addition to the menopause, hot flashes occur with hyperthyroidism, carcinoid syndrome, and pheochromocytoma. Hot flashes can be a side effect when taking antiestrogens, Bromocriptine, Nicotinic acid, Cephalosporin, Tamoxifen, CCB, Ketoconazole. Hot flashes also occur if a person takes certain medications and alcoholic beverages.
About proper nutrition
Nutrition can improve the well-being of women who suffer from intense hot flashes. To do this, you need to constantly consume plant products that contain a lot of phytohormones; recently they have been called analogues of natural estrogens. Especially useful:
- , citrus fruits, red grapes, apricots, peaches;
- , cabbage (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts), flaxseed, ;
- chickpeas, beans, soybeans, cereals;
- , oat and rye flour, ;
- vegetable oils (,);
- red wine (in moderation);
- sunflower seeds, nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts);
- (linden, sweet clover, clover).
Zucchini, cabbage (Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), salad greens, lemons have cooling properties.
Eat less foods that have warming properties: fried meat, French fries, pepper, cloves, etc.
Instead of tea and coffee, give preference mineral water, juices, chicory drink.
Your psychological attitude is of great importance for your health. Don’t “get hung up” on negative events, problems, experiences. Try to find reasons for joy and laughter among the adversities and hardships of everyday hectic life.
Refrain from saunas, steam baths, and exposure to the hot sun.
Ventilate the room you are in often, especially before going to bed. Choose natural bedding, for example, cotton, buy a light blanket, terry sheet.
You can use a special chilled pillow or place it under your regular pillow before going to bed. plastic bottle with ice water poured into it.
Keep yourself in good shape - cycling or walking, skiing in the forest, dancing will help you.
Try signing up for classes in a group where they practice hormonal yoga (it combines physical exercise from, elements of Tibetan energy gymnastics). This technique was developed and proposed by Dina Rodriguez from Brazil. She claims that daily exercise for 15-30 minutes a day helps normalize hormonal balance and alleviate the condition of women who are bothered by painful hot flashes. MirSovetov warns: for some diseases, yoga exercises are contraindicated.
It trains the thermoregulation system well.
Tone, refresh the face and neck, reduce sweating by rubbing (natural) or infusion of mint leaves (you can make ice cubes from it).
Take courses of vitamin E or such inexpensive complexes as “Dekamevit”, “Kvadevit”.
Try to buy clothing items made from cotton, linen, viscose; give preference to those models where the neck is open. It is better to arrange your outfit so that if you feel hot, you can take off some of your clothes.
If you sweat a lot, then long hair It is better to pin it in the form of a bunch.
Stop smoking and drinking excessive alcohol.
How can you alleviate the condition if a hot flash has already begun?
- Don't panic, stop what you're doing for a few minutes, sit or lie down on the sofa if possible. You can go to the window, go out onto the balcony, or provide air flow with a beautiful fan.
- Breathe deeply and slowly.
- Some women find that massaging the hollow of the chin (under the lower lip) in a clockwise direction for two minutes helps.
- You can drink some cold water or wash your face with it.
Calling the herbs for help
There are medicinal plants in the natural pantry containing phytohormones that can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes, reduce sweating, relieve irritability, improve sleep. But do not expect positive changes in the first days of taking infusions; herbal treatment is long-term, course-based. Alternate herbs; it is not advisable to use the same herb for more than three months; breaks are necessary. U medicinal plants There are also contraindications, so before you start, study the information about the plant you have chosen or consult with specialists in this field. Follow your doctor's recommendations in everything, adhere to the instructions, and do not exceed the dosage. It should be remembered that if you are taking hormonal drugs, you should not use herbs that contain natural hormone-like substances. During menstrual bleeding, taking infusions is temporarily stopped.
And now a few specific recipes to help women more easily endure menopause and its “fellow travelers”:
- Pour two tablespoons of linden flowers with a glass of boiling water (200 ml), leave for 20 minutes. Drink a glass of strained infusion per day for three weeks.
- Buy hop cones at the pharmacy (the box may say “fruit”). Pour 2 teaspoons into a mug and pour 200 ml of boiling water over this raw material. Cover with a lid and leave for about 40 minutes. Take the strained product (it will be bitter), a third of a glass three times a day, half an hour before meals.
- Place two teaspoons (without the top) of leaves (crushed) in a mug and fill them with boiled water. Leave to steep for about 25 minutes. Drink immediately in the morning or in two doses. The course lasts 14 days, it is advisable to carry it out in the first phase of the menstrual cycle; such a course should be started immediately after menstruation. This treatment can be repeated in the next cycle.
- One more thing good remedy- This is the herb of oregano. It should be taken in the amount of a tablespoon and pour 200 ml of boiling water. After 20 minutes, the infusion will be ready for use. Dosage: a glass twice a day. You can stir a spoonful of honey into the warm infusion.
- Place 200 grams of red rowan fruit (chopped) in a jar and pour in 500 ml of cognac (or vodka). Infusion (extraction of active substances) is carried out in a dark cabinet for 3 weeks. Strain the resulting tincture. Dosage: a teaspoon three times a day.
- For severe hot flashes, you can make the following collection:
- linden flowers;
- wormwood herb;
- peppermint leaves;
- buckthorn bark;
- fennel fruits.
All components are taken in equal quantities, for example, 50 grams. Measure out two tablespoons of the mixture, place in a thermos, pour 500 ml of boiling water. Dosage: a glass twice a day.
The following plants may also be useful: meadow grass, licorice, common mantle, and lemon balm.
In women who lead an active lifestyle, watch their weight, and have a positive attitude, negative manifestations of menopause are observed less frequently than those who have an unstable nervous system, are prone to anxiety, are quick-tempered, are pessimistic, and suffer from excess body weight. Love yourself and those around you, take care of your health, and may your “ autumn time"will be golden.