Hot flashed are a symptom frequently associated with menopause, caused when estrogen production by the ovaries ceases.
Three out of four menopausal women experience hot flashes. In most cases, these hot flashes persist for over a year, for nearly half of all women, and up to 5 to 10 years after the end of menstruation. However, some women can continue to suffer from hot flashes after age 70.
The body maintains a constant temperature by regulating blood flows at skin level.
Estrogens play a role in this mechanism for regulating body temperature. At menopause, the decline and eventual stopping of estrogen secretions can cause vasodilatation of blood vessels in the skin and unpleasant "hot flashes". A stressful situation or sudden change of temperature can also trigger a hot flash.
The first sign of a hot flash is a feeling of pressure in the head, similar to a headache. The intensity increases gradually and culminates in the actual hot flash, which starts at the head and neck before sweeping over the entire body. The heat sensation is followed by intense sweating, which can be relatively uncomfortable, especially at night, mainly around the head, neck and chest areas. It can also be felt in the cheeks and legs. An episode can last from 2 to 5 minutes and end with trembling and shivering.
Hot flashes, although not dangerous, have a real effect on the quality of menopausal women's lives.
Indeed, these episodes can sometimes occur from 15 to 20 times a day, inconveniencing women to the point they can no longer enjoy a normal life. Fortunately, there are solutions that can considerably reduce this discomfort.