Hot Flushes

“More than 57% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hot Flushes Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cold Flashes
  • Hot Flash
  • Hot Flashes
  • Hot Flush (HF)
  • Hot Flushes
  • Menopausal/Menopause Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
  • Menopause-Related Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
  • Vasomotor Symptoms
  • “Power Surges”

Vasomotor Symptoms

What are vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?

DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.2

Hot Flush

What is a hot flush?

DotS the definition of a hot flush may vary. In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“More than 57% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face. They can also spread over your whole body. The flushes may feel like a burning, overheating sensation. You may also have reddening of the skin and different degrees of sweating. When a flush happens at night, it’s called a night sweat”.3

Hot Flash

What is a hot flash?

DotS the definition of a hot flash may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

Hot Flushes“A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. Your skin might redden, as if you’re blushing. A hot flash can also cause sweating. If you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward”.4

Night Sweats

What are night sweats?

DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night, and they may disrupt your sleep”.5

Cause

What is the cause of hot flushes?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the JH explain:

“We don’t know exactly what causes hot flushes. Lower oestrogen levels may affect parts of the brain that regulate your body temperature. Many studies suggest that stress and anxiety can influence the frequency and intensity of hot flushes. Some foods or alcohol can also have an impact”.6

Other Causes

Apart from menopause, what are other causes of hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic note:

“Rarely, hot flashes and nights sweats are caused by something other than menopause. Other potential causes include medication side effects, problems with your thyroid, certain cancers and side effects of cancer treatment”.7

Common or Not

How common are hot flushes?

In the United States, according to the NAMS:

“Hot flashes are reported by as many as 75% of perimenopausal women in the United States”.8

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence, published online 30 October 2023, the authors note:

“Findings from large Australian epidemiology studies have revealed that 74% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have VMS, 28% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have moderate to severely bothersome VMS, and 42% and 33% of women aged 60–64 years and 65–79 years, respectively, still have VMS”.9

Impact

What impact may hot flushes have?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Hot flashes may impact your daily activities and quality of life. Nighttime hot flashes (night sweats) can wake you from sleep and, over time, can cause long-term sleep disruptions”.10

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“VMS severely impact well-being, the effect being similar to having insecure housing”.11

Depression

Is there an association between hot flushes and depressive symptoms?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“Women with moderate to severe VMS are up to three-fold more likely to have moderate–severe depressive symptoms than other women”.12

Heart Disease and Bone Loss

Is there an association between hot flushes, risk of heart disease and greater bone loss?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications according to the Mayo Clinic:

“Research suggests that women who have hot flashes may have an increased risk of heart disease and greater bone loss than women who do not have hot flashes”.13

Lifestyle Changes

What are some lifestyle changes to improve hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes the (United States) National Institute on Aging elaborate on:

  • “Dress in layers that can be removed at the start of a hot flash
  • Carry a portable fan to use when a hot flash strikes
  • Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine. These can make menopausal symptoms worse
  • If you smoke, try to quit, not only for hot flashes, but for your overall health
  • Try to maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight or obese may experience more frequent and severe hot flashes
  • Explore mind-body practices. Some early-stage research has shown that hypnotherapy and mindfulness meditation could help with management of hot flashes”.14

Treatment Options

What are the two categories of treatment options for hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“In general, there are two categories of treatment options for hot flashes: prescription medications and over-the-counter (non-prescription) therapies. Some prescription medications are used as off-label treatments to help reduce hot flashes. Using a product “off label” means that it’s not FDA-approved for the treatment of hot flashes, but is often used because it can be safe and effective as a treatment option”.15

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy one of the most effective treatment for hot flushes?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use which “simplifies the data in the new NAMS Position Statement for women trying to make decisions about using hormone therapy” the NAMS note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats”.16

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“The most effective way to relieve the discomfort of hot flashes is to take estrogen, but taking this hormone carries risks. If estrogen is appropriate for you and you start it within 10 years of your last menstrual period or before age 60, the benefits can be greater than the risks.

Medications such as antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs also might help reduce hot flashes, although they’re less effective than hormones”.17

Alternative Therapies

Do alternative therapies improve hot flushes?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

“Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HRT”.18

Stop

When do hot flushes stop?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms and Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic NAMS explain:

“On average, hot flash symptoms persist for more than seven years. Some women have them for more than 10 years”.19

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my hot flushes?

If you would like help with your hot flushes, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Discuss the pros and cons of various treatments with your doctor. If hot flashes don’t interfere with your life, you probably don’t need treatment. Hot flashes subside gradually for most women, even without treatment, but it can take several years for them to stop”.20

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hot Flushes?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] [October 2023]
  3. An Ob-Gyn’s Top Tips for Managing Hot Flashes
  4. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  5. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  6. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  7. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  8. Can Hot Flashes Cause Nausea?
  9. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Cold Flashes During Menopause: Is It Normal?
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  12. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  13. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  14. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  15. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  16. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  17. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  18. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  19. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  20. Heart Palpitations
  21. Heart Palpitations
  22. Hot Flashes
  23. Hot Flashes
  24. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  25. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  26. How Fezolinetant Changes Management of Hot Flashes [Video]
  27. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  28. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  29. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  30. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  31. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  32. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  33. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  34. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  39. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hot Flushes
  43. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Hot Flushes
  44. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  45. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  46. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  47. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  48. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  50. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  51. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  52. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  53. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  54. Menopause Wellness Hub
  55. Menopause and HRT [Includes Breast Cancer Risk]
  56. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  57. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  58. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  59. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  60. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  68. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  69. Natural Therapies
  70. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  71. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  72. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  73. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  74. Perimenopause
  75. Perimenopause
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  77. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  78. Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
  79. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  80. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  81. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  82. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  83. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  84. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  85. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  86. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  87. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  88. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  89. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  90. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopausal Assessment and Management
  92. Webinars: Previous – Management of Menopause In Patients With Obesity
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  95. What Are Menopause Cold Flashes?
  96. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  97. What Does A Hot Flash Feel Like?
  98. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  99. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  100. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  2. Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 14 April 2024
  3. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  4. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  5. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  6. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  7. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  8. Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/hot-flashes Accessed: 14 April 2024
  9. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  10. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  11. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  12. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  13. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  14. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes. Content Reviewed: 30 September 2021. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-do Accessed: 14 April 2024
  15. Hot Flashes: How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? 21 March 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes Accessed: 14 April 2024
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 14 April 2024
  17. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  18. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  19. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  20. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 14 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 14 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 April 2024

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