Hot flushes, why 80% of women will experience them

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Night sweats and hot flushes are the most common symptoms of menopause and while this ‘change of life’ affects every woman differently, for most of us there’s no avoiding it.

As a woman’s cycle reduces and eventually stops, their ovaries slow down and the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone decline over time, which in turn brings on hot flashes (and other uncomfortable experiences).

Hot flushes are caused by the dilation of peripheral blood vessels which raises skin temperature by several degrees.

Some of the women who consult with our team of wellbeing experts at Happy Healthy You prefer to use the term ‘power surges’ which are best described as sudden episodes of warmth that begin on the chest, neck or face and spread throughout the body.

So why do flushes happen? They are the work of our brain’s hypothalamus, which mistakes small increases in body temperature as a sign that you may be too warm, and this causes a hot flush.

Prevalence of hot flashes in menopause

In the most severe of cases, they can occur four or five times in an hour or 20 to 30 times a day.

Most of our customer base is female and as we are led by Olympic swimming champ Lisa Curry and Women’s Health Specialist Jeff Butterworth, we can share with you that more than 80 percent of women experience hot flushes.

During the transition from reproductive to non-reproductive age, which usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55 and can last anywhere between 7 and 14 years, these warm spells can last anywhere from one to five minutes and may occur a few times a week for some women, or daily for others.

In the most severe of cases, they can occur four or five times in an hour or 20 to 30 times a day.

Duration of hot flashes

For most women, hot flushes occur for between six months and two years or less, while for some it can be persistent and considerably longer, up to 10 years in some cases.

It’s worth noting that hot flushes that last a long period of time often become less severe as time goes on – which is great, right!

As each episode subsides, cold chills often follow. This is because perspiration evaporates and cools the body.

There are some factors that trigger hot flashes include race, education, menopause status, smoking history, obesity, alcohol consumption, leisure activity levels, and a woman’s levels of estradiol and progesterone.

Impact of hot flashes on women's health and how to manage them

Those women who experience night-time hot flushes (night sweats) are often prone to long-term sleep disruptions.

Those women who experience night-time hot flushes (night sweats) are often prone to long-term sleep disruptions.

In addition to this, women who endure these regular temperature spikes are thought to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and greater loss of bone strength than those who don’t experience them.

Fatigue, anxiety and depression and emotional reactions are other health factors worth being aware of.

Avoiding certain triggers can assist in reducing the severity or symptoms, including establishing a calming routine, exercise during the day, wearing loose, light clothing, using a bedside fan and dressing in layers.

Hot flushes can disrupt your quality of life during menopause; however, it doesn’t have to be like this.

Menopause is a natural process. There are various supplements available to support the process, and by focusing on your diet, lifestyle and adrenal health, you can navigate this stage of life successfully and drug free.

Sage is a powerful herb that can assist specifically in temperature regulation and can reduce hot flushes and it is one of the key ingredients in our formulation. It can also be consumed in herbal tea form.

Summary

Around 80% of women experience hot flushes during menopause due to hormonal changes and lifestyle factors. They can last for 7 - 14 years, as often as 4 - 5 times per hour.

While hot flushes are disruptive to sleep and can affect your emotional wellbeing, rest assured that there are a range of things you can do to alleviate symptoms.

More Posts on Hot Flashes