Hot Flashes
Menopause continues to behave rudely.
Disclaimer: none of the information and opinions provided here are intended as medical advice. I am not a health practitioner. I have no special training. I have personal experience, exasperation, and Google skills. See your doctor if you are struggling. Seriously. She or he could help.
According to Google, it is currently 109 outside my front door. The National Weather Service has renewed our Excessive Heat Warning for the next 3 days. They will extend it, trust me. This isn’t my first rodeo. I have lived in the Phoenix area since 1986.
When I was younger, the heat didn’t bother me as much. Since hot flashes have become a frequent companion, the annual stretch of days over the 100-degree mark is more difficult. I’d still rather be hot than cold, but the sweating is ridiculous. I’ve never heard any woman say she “glows” during Phoenix summers. We sweat.
When hormonal changes began to hit, it didn’t begin with heat. I had chills. It was ridiculous. I would shiver and lay on my couch with a blanket. During the summer. With our air conditioning set on 75 degrees. Insanity.
My doctor helped. “It is more accurate to describe the symptom as ‘temperature disruption.’ He said, “You can and will have waves of cold and heat.”
“Great,” I thought. “Something to look forward to.”
The hot flashes came. They moved in and, five years later, they have yet to move on. I seem to have passed through menopause sometime in the last few years. I talked about that in the following story:
If I have completed my trip to the other side of menopause, it hasn’t taken the hot flashes with it. Women I know told me this could happen. One of the ladies I know said she’s still having them, ten years later. I wish I thought she was kidding.
Not all women who go through menopause have hot flashes, and it’s not clear why some women do have them. Factors that may increase your risk include:
· Smoking. Women who smoke are more likely to get hot flashes.
· Obesity. A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher frequency of hot flashes.
· Ethnicity. More African-American women report menopausal hot flashes than do women of European descent. Hot flashes are less common in women of Japanese and Chinese descent than in white European women. Hot Flashes Mayo Clinic
So, I have never smoked aside from a couple of tries in high school. I am twenty pounds overweight, but I am not classified as obese. I am white and blonde.
I was hoping for something unexpected when I took my DNA test, but no. I come from a long line of pale white people. My ancestors set sail from Ireland, Scotland, and England. There is a bit of West Europe in there, whatever that means.
Let’s file this under “You are a woman of a certain age. It happens. Get over it.”
I am choosing to avoid hormone replacement therapy. My mother had breast cancer and I am being careful. If it becomes too difficult to deal with, I may change my mind. For now, I need to come up with another method of dealing with the hot flashes.
I turned to Google, as I often do.
Each woman’s triggers for hot flashes may be a little different, but some common ones include:
consuming products with caffeine
eating spicy foods
being in a hot room
wearing tight clothing
smoking or being exposed to cigarette smoke
bending over
Understanding and Dealing with Hot Flashes, Healthline
Bending over? What?
Ok, out of that list, my mocha addiction is obviously not doing me any favors. Experience has proven any alcohol should be consumed in the afternoon. Two glass of Chardonnay with dinner kept me up one night with unending hot flashes until about 3 AM. Don’t feel too sorry for me. Usually, I am awake reading until 1.
The biggest problem, obviously, is the weather. It is likely that we will hit 118 at some point in the coming weeks. We keep our home cooler than many around here. I know people who keep it around 80 to save on electricity costs.
If avoiding sweat storms is difficult, how to treat them when they show up?
Some women are able to manage their hot flashes with some simple tools or techniques. Here are some simple ways to find relief:
- dressing in layers, even on the coldest days, so you can adjust your clothing to how you’re feeling
- sipping ice water at the start of a hot flash
- wearing cotton night clothes and using cotton bed linens
- keeping a cold pack on your bedside table
Understanding and Dealing with Hot Flashes, Healthline
Stay cool. At night, a “chill pillow” filled with water or other cooling material might help. Use fans during the day. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes made with natural fibers such as cotton.
Try deep, slow abdominal breathing (6 to 8 breaths per minute). Practice deep breathing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening, and when a hot flash starts.
Exercise daily. Walking, swimming, bicycling, and dancing are all good choices. What Are Hot Flashes, WebMD
I am not a doctor and do not feel comfortable recommending any herbs, essential oils, or supplements. The things I tried made no difference, but everyone is unique. Something may help you.
My very best advice, as a woman who is dealing with this issue, is to discuss your symptoms and struggles with your doctor. From personal experience, I strongly recommend finding a good gynecologist. I struggled in confusion until I chose to visit a specialist in women’s health.
My primary care physician is a good doctor, don’t get me wrong. But a specialist helped my other symptoms immediately. In the larger scheme of things, hot flashes are less bothersome than the premenopausal symptoms I suffered from five years ago.
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