As the summer heatwaves begin, many of us are turning to the beach and iced coffees or turning up the AC to stay cool. But for some, that sticky hot feeling is caused by more than just the summer heat. That’s right, we’re talking about the infamous hot flashes of perimenopause and menopause. Unlike the feeling of overheating on a hot day, hot flashes are characterized by an intense and rapidly increasing sensation of heat that may be accompanied by flushed skin, sweating, and a racing heart or sensation of anxiety. In addition to interfering with sleep, hot flashes can be incredibly disruptive to a woman’s day to day quality of life.
This post is all about those pesky hot flashes; what happens to your hormones in menopause, how this relates to hot flashes and temperature regulation, triggers and associated symptoms, and natural as well as pharmaceutical treatment options for hot flashes.