I AM HOT!

I would like to dedicate this blog to all the hot midlife women who are suffering from hot flashes and the equally annoying, night sweats. Although our entire nation is experiencing a hot and steamy August, 80% of midlife women can also expect an even hotter and sweatier summer. So turn on your AC or crank up the fan while you enjoy a cold glass of water and some fun facts about hot flashes and night sweats.

1. What is a hot flash?

A hot flash is a sudden sensation of heat that usually starts in your upper chest area and then moves upward to your face. You start to feel warm, then hot, and then you begin to flush, which makes you red in the face.

2. How long does a hot flash last?

A hot flash can last up to 5 minutes and is sometimes associated with a fast heart rate, called palpitations, as well as feelings of anxiety. If your hot flash and subsequent speedy heart rate and panicky feelings are severe, many of you wind up in an emergency room to rule out a heart attack!

3. Do hot flashes last forever?

The average woman will experience hot flashes for 7 years. An unlucky few of you will suffer for longer than 20 years. There is no rhyme or reason regarding which woman you will be. Black and Hispanic women, as well as those of you who are overweight or smoke cigarettes, are at an increased risk of experiencing hot flashes.

4. What is a night sweat?

A night sweat is when your body responds to a hot flash by sweating, in order to try and cool you down. Sweating can happen in either the day or night. If it occurs at night, you can wake up drenched. There goes your chance for a good night’s sleep!

5. What hot flash and night sweat remedies really work?

The first thing that we should all do is engage in healthy lifestyle choices. Two recent studies published in the Journal of Physiology and Menopause, respectively, have linked improvement in hot flashes with at least 45 minutes of rigorous exercise, five days a week. Losing weight and not smoking are important strategies as well. Beyond that, most over-the-counter herbal and soy products do not work. Keep your environment cool and your cold glass of water close by.

And if you are within 10 years of your last menstrual period and less than sixty years old, you should consider trying hormone therapy, the gold standard for the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.

I will talk more about hormone therapy in my next blog called, Potions, Patches and Pills! 

Are you dealing with any of these symptoms? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.