Hot flashes are tension-bringers to many women as they (women) tend to associate them with menopause. As much as they are one of the symptoms of menopause, truth be told, not all hot flushes are a sign of the end of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle i.e. the time the periods cease to occur for good. By knowing other causes of hot flushes, you can be able to tell if its menopause approaching or not. Hot flushes are characterized by heat and flushing. Sometimes sweating may be involved to the extent that the clothes are left drenched in sweat. In this case, they are referred to as night sweats if they occur during the night. A single hot flush will normally last one to five minutes. In severe cases, they may last more than this. Most women experience hot flushes during their lifetime. When hot flushes are severe, they may interfere with the normal day to day life of a person. They may be embarrassing and cause worry especially when they strike in the presence of people and are accompanied with sweating.
In the event that you start experiencing hot flushes as woman, it is important to determine the actual cause before jumping to the conclusion that it’s menopause. Below are some of the non-menopausal causes of hot flushes.
1. Spicy Foods
When you eat food filled with spices, especially hot pepper, you may experience hot flushes later on. The reason is that these foods dilate blood vessels and stimulate nerve endings. The result of such changes is extreme heat from the body. Try to minimize the spices in your food if you are experiencing this problem and see if it stops. Basically, put as much spices as needed and don’t over indulge in foods that are full of spices. While you are at it, reduce your alcohol intake; it’s also one of the culprits. You may have experienced an extreme warming sensation after taking a few too many and wondered why that happened. Now you know.
2. Emotional causes
Hormonal changes in your body may cause hot flushes. Menopause is not included here in this case. Stress, for example, is one of the major causes. It releases stress hormones that pump up blood flow in the body and in the process cause an extreme heating sensation. Anxiety and tension can also cause this. Hot flushes may also be a sign of an allergic reaction towards certain foods or environmental elements.
3. Medication
One of the side effects of certain prescription medications may be hot flushes. For example, Raloxifene, mainly prescribed for people suffering from osteoporosis, causes hot flushes accompanied by skin flushing. Also, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, you may experience hot flushes. Certain kinds of over-the-counter medications may make you have hot flushes. If this is the case, discuss with your doctor to determine if the medication is the cause. He/ she may offer alternative medication or ways to minimize the hot flushes.
4. Other conditions
Some disease may cause you to experience hot flushes. Doctors will tell you that hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates temperatures in the body, is the one that triggers hot flushes. As a woman ages, fluctuating estrogen levels may cause the hypothalamus to malfunction. This can be treated using the hormone replacement therapy. Eating and genetic disorders are also possible causes of hypothalamus malfunction.
In some other instances, other menopause symptoms may be mistaken for hot flushes. Take fever for example. It may be caused by conditions such as urinary tract infections and when it occurs, it gives a hot flush. Hyperthyroidism, a condition that affects the thyroid by making it overactive, may also cause a sensation of overheating that may be mistaken for hot flushes. Seek treatment if you think you might suffering from one of these conditions that may trigger hot flushes. However, before you diagnose yourself, ensure you consult the doctor to determine if you actually have the given condition.
Conclusion
Hot flushes are but one of Menopause symptoms. It is a fact of life for most women during perimenopause and menopause, well except for a few lucky ones. Keeping a diary of the hot flushes will help your doctor determine exactly what triggers them. Elaborate in the diary when they occur, how long they last, how intense they are and your diet before they occur. This way, it will be very easy to rule out possible causes and a step towards eliminating them started. This is especially important if they are affecting your quality of life. Important to note also is that using heated blankets and staying in an overheated room may also trigger this. A cool bath will help lower the temperature back to normalcy.
References
https://www.thebeautyinsiders.com/menopause-supplements
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/anginaberryz/view/7-ways-to-relax-during-menopause-781589
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