Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause and leave many women dreading summer. With your internal temperature already feeling out of control, the summer heat can feel daunting. Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes, but there are simple solutions to minimize and manage this symptom. This week on Fox 17, Dr. Bitner explains hot flashes and shares tips to stay cool this summer.
Our brains contain an internal thermostat that regulates body temperature, maintaining a comfort zone between approximately 96.6 and 100.6 degrees. Hot flashes occur when the body’s core temperature goes above this comfort zone. Your “thermostat” then sends a message to blood vessels within the skin to dilate and release heat, resulting in your skin heating up and sweating. The opposite happens when the core temperature drops below this zone; the skin vessels contract, driving blood to the core, and muscles shiver to create heat.
Estrogen is crucial to regulating the body’s internal thermostat. Estrogen levels decrease during menopause, post-birth, and while taking birth control. The hormone helps maintain a stable body temperature by sending accurate signals to cool down or heat up as needed. When estrogen levels decrease, the signals become inaccurate, making it difficult for the body to maintain a stable temperature.
Knowing your triggers is the first step to minimizing hot flashes. Here are a few common lifestyle factors that may trigger or worsen your hot flashes:
Once you have identified your lifestyle triggers, you can begin instilling healthy habits that will minimize these triggers, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep, and proper hydration. Talk with your doctor about your potential triggers to develop a collaborative plan to minimize hot flashes.
It’s important to know your phase of ovarian function to understand why you may be experiencing hot flashes. There are three phases:
Understanding your current phase of ovarian function can help you decide whether lifestyle changes alone are sufficient or if you should also seek medical support to alleviate symptoms.
Here are medical options to help alleviate symptoms of low estrogen levels:
If you are suffering from severe hot flashes, it might be time to seek a medical professional who is knowledgeable about premenopause/menopause and ask about options.
Jane, 50, had finished her first year of treatment for breast cancer. She was on medications to suppress any estrogen in her body, and the chemotherapy had put her ovaries into menopause. The hot flashes were terrible; they kept her from enjoying summer activities.
During her doctor checkup, Jane learned some of her triggers were from lack of water, hot coffee before water, sugar, and alcohol. She was also sleep-deprived and stressed. Because Jane was in chemo-induced menopause, and estrogen was not recommended because of her history of breast cancer, her doctor recommended Veozah, a non-hormonal medicine to treat hot flashes.
Jane began taking the medicine and implementing healthy habits in place of her triggers. By day four, she was sleeping through the night and had significantly minimized her hot flashes. Jane was grateful she could return to making summer memories.
If you’re experiencing hot flashes, the first step is to identify your phase of ovarian function and pinpoint your triggers. Don’t suffer in silence—consult a knowledgeable medical professional to develop a personalized plan tailored to your unique triggers and lifestyle. It’s time to regain control of your health and learn to manage your menopause symptoms effectively.
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