What Are They?
A hot flash is that sudden wave of heat that washes over your upper body, usually hitting your face, neck, and chest the hardest. Your skin might get red and flushed, kind of like you’re blushing. Hot flashes often come with sweating, and if your body cools down too fast, you might even feel chilled afterward. When these happen at night, they're called night sweats and can mess with your sleep.
While hot flashes can be caused by other health issues, they’re most often linked to menopause, which is when your periods become irregular and eventually stop. In fact, hot flashes are the most common symptom during the transition to menopause.
Luckily, there are plenty of treatments to help manage those bothersome hot flashes.
Symptoms
During a hot flash, you might experience:
- A sudden wave of warmth spreading through your chest, neck, and face
- Red, blotchy skin
- A fast heartbeat
- Sweating, mainly on your upper body
- A chilly feeling once the hot flash is over
- Anxiety or a sense of panic
The frequency and intensity of hot flashes can vary from woman to woman. Some flashes last a minute or two, while others can hang around for up to 5 minutes.
Hot flashes can be mild or so intense that they interfere with daily life. They can happen any time—day or night. If they hit at night (aka night sweats), they can wake you up and seriously mess with your sleep.
Most women experience hot flashes daily, and the symptoms can stick around for more than seven years. Some women deal with them for over a decade!
When to See a Doctor
If hot flashes are affecting your daily life or keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep, it might be time to talk to your doctor about treatment options.
What Causes Them?
Hot flashes are usually triggered by hormonal changes that happen before, during, and after menopause. While it’s not entirely clear how this works, most research points to lower estrogen levels making your body’s thermostat (the hypothalamus) super sensitive. When your body thinks it’s too warm, the hypothalamus kicks off a hot flash to try to cool you down.
In rare cases, hot flashes and night sweats can be caused by other things, like side effects from medication, thyroid problems, certain cancers, or cancer treatments.
Risk Factors
Not all women get hot flashes during menopause, and it’s unclear why some do while others don’t. But certain things might increase your chances, including:
- Smoking: Women who smoke are more likely to experience hot flashes.
- Obesity: A higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to more frequent hot flashes.
- Race: Black women tend to report hot flashes more often than women of other races, while Asian women report them the least.
Complications
Hot flashes can throw off your daily routine and impact your quality of life. Night sweats can mess with your sleep, and over time, that can lead to long-term sleep issues.
Please share your experience with hot flashes in the comments!
