Everyone has heard about hot flashes in women going through menopause. However, no woman really wants to experience them despite the fact that 3 out of 4 women do. If you can tolerate your hot flashes then there is really no reason to treat them. They are annoying, of course, however they are a natural result of your body going through the change of life. However, there are some treatment options available for women who have a difficult time getting their hot flashes under control. There may be many natural remedies you can try that will help you resolve some of your hot flashes or at least get them under control. Many doctors may try to put you on prescription drugs, but you should consider the benefits and drawbacks of doing this before going down that road. The drugs may help your hot flashes, but could cause many other undesirable symptoms that you don’t want to experience.

Some women will experience severe hot flashes while other women will have relatively mild ones. It is not uncommon for women to feel like the pressure in their head is increasing as a hot flash comes on. Then, your upper body and face may begin to feel very warm or even extremely hot. Some women may look flushed or have red splotchy skin. The rate of heartbeat frequently increases and it is quite common for women to perspire profusely. Once the hot flash subsides it is common for women to feel a little chilly. These are the most common symptoms of a hot flash however there are other symptoms that some women may experience and these include dizziness, faintness, fatigue, and weakness.

Some women may experience hot flashes on a daily basis while other women may only experience them a couple times per week. Some women may feel warmer than usual while other women may sweat significantly all day and all night. Usually, hot flashes last only a couple of minutes but it is possible for them to last as long as half an hour. Women experiencing nighttime hot flashes may wake up from their sleep and then find it difficult to go back to sleep.

If you can handle your hot flashes there is no reason to see a doctor. However if your hot flashes begin to interfere with your life then you may want to make an appointment with a doctor. Not all women will get hot flashes, but there are a few things that may increase your risk. For example, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, African American descent, and others.

Posted in Menopause

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