Menopause: Frequently Asked Questions
by Marilyn B. Green, MS, APRN, BC
Marilyn is certified by the North American Menopause Society as a Menopause Practitioner.
January 27, 2004
What is a hot flash?
Hot flashes are the most common perimenopausal discomfort. The exact reason women experience them is not known. It is thought to be due to changes in the part of the brain stem that regulates the body's temperature.
If this part of the brain stem mistakenly senses that a woman is too warm, it starts events to try to lower her temperature. This is similar to the mechanism that cools the body after a strenuous work out.
Here's how this cooling mechanism works: The blood vessels near the surface of the skin enlarge, increasing blood flow just below the skin. Bringing blood away from the core of the body and nearer to the skin, helps the body to dissipate heat and lowers the temperature of the body.
This cooling mechanism can produce a red, flushed look and cause the woman to perspire and to feel the sensation of a rapid heartbeat. Often, a cold chill follows. Some women may experience only the chill.
What is night sweat?
A night sweat is a hot flash that happens at night that is accompanied by heavy perspiration.
How long do hot flashes last?
Hot flashes usually stop without treatment. While the intensity and frequency of hot flashes varies from woman to woman, many woman notice that there is a consistent pattern to their own experience.
For example, some perimenopausal women notice an increase in hot flash intensity just before their period. Some women have hot flashes only for a few months while other women have them for years or even decades after menopause.
Hot flashes often increase with stress and may be associated with palpitations or feelings of anxiety.
Is there anything you can do to help relieve the hot flash?
There are a number of strategies for dealing with hot flashes. If you want to learn more about hot flashes and menopause please register for the seminar being offered in March. Watch for details.