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Symptoms of Hot Flushes

Hot flushes or flashes are sensations of heat that rush through the body and are commonly associated with menopause and perimenopause. They can also be caused by opioid withdrawal, disorders of the ovaries, premenstrual syndrome, an autoimmune problem associated with cancer or cancer treatment and a thyroid condition called subacute glaucomatous thyroiditis. Some medications may also cause them. Hot flushes can be recognized by several symptoms.

  1. Causes

    • According to PubMed of the National Institute of Health, almost every woman, and some men, will experience a hot flush at least once. Regardless, why they happen is still unknown. Hormones seem to be a leading contender, however. Hormone treatments, serotonin-uptake inhibitors and other drugs, as well as alternative medicine such as acupuncture, have been used to counter them.

    Heat Sensation

    • During a hot flush, you will have a sudden, unpleasant burst of heat. The chest, shoulders, neck and face will all have the sensation of being hot. The Food and Drug Administration, in the results of a study on hormone treatments, described hot flushes as short, recurrent periods of uncomfortable sweating and flushing.

    Flushing

    • The heat sensation often brings with it palpitations of the heart and a flushing of the face. You may feel anxious without knowing why. If you have a hot flush in the night, it is called night sweats.

    Chills

    • In the aftermath of a hot flush, you may get the chills. Some patients complain of feeling cold and clammy. You may even shiver.

    Other Side Effects

    • Other hot flush side effects include embarrassment and a feeling that quality of life is affected.

    Duration

    • Hot flushes may occur once or twice a week. However, it is not unheard of to have 10 or more each day. Fortunately, as time progresses, the number diminishes. Most women who have hot flushes associated with menopause will have them for six months to two years. The symptoms appear spontaneously and depart in the same way. About 29 percent of 60-year-old women report continuing hot flushes, according to a controlled trial reported in PubMed by the National Institute of Health.

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