The Meaning of Hot Flashes

As women age, their bodies change in many ways. One of the most dramatic is the onset of menopause, which typically happens to women in their 50s. One sign of menopause is hot flashes.

Identification

• A hot flash is a sudden feeling of intense heat in the body that can cause sweating and reddening of the head, neck and chest. Hot flashes can happen at any time, lasting from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, and can be accompanied by heart palpitations, anxiety and panic.

Time Frame

• Hot flashes typically affect women during menopause, indicating a decline in estrogen levels in the body. They can continue to affect some women up to five years after menopause.

Significance

• Hot flashes are a common side effect of menopause, affecting three out of four women.

Theories/Speculation

• Researchers speculate the drop in estrogen caused by menopause affects the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that regulates body temperature, thus causing hot flashes.

Prevention/Solution

• Hot flashes can be treated using estrogen hormone therapy, which is the only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.