Medical Reasons for Hot Flashes

If you experience a hot flash, you may feel that a sudden and extreme fluctuation in temperature has occurred. Certain symptoms linked to hot flashes include sweating followed by a slight chill; warmth on your face, chest, and neck; and a pounding heartbeat. A hot flash lasts an average of four minutes but can feel like an eternity if you are suffering with the disorder. It's a misconception that only older women experience hot flashes. Young women and even men can have hot flashes. The exact causes of hot flashes are not known, but according to the Mayo Clinic, doctors can pinpoint a number of medical conditions they are associated with.

Menopause

• The most common medical reason for hot flashes is menopause. During menopause a woman begins to produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone. The hormone imbalance that occurs as the ovaries experience estrogen withdrawal can result in hot flashes. Three out of four women have hot flashes with menopause.

Hyperthyroidism

• Young women (and sometimes men) in their 20s and 30s who experience hot flashes often find that they have an overactive thyroid, a condition called hyperthyroidism.

Diabetes

• Both women and men sometimes experience hot flashes because of diabetes. Since 2006, the University of Texas has received funding to examine the link between hot flashes and diabetes.

Diet

• According to MSNBC, hot flashes can also occur from certain types of food. Two of the most common food sources for hot flashes are meat that contains nitrites and wine that contains sulfites. Individuals who experience hot flashes after they have consumed certain foods can alter their diet to avoid suffering from the condition.

Other Causes

• Serious infections such as HIV and tuberculosis have also been linked to hot flashes in both men and women.

Prevention/Solution

• According to The University of Illinois Medical Center, although there is no cure for hot flashes and you might not know their source, you can take certain actions to help alleviate the symptoms. For example, avoid extreme temperatures and drinking alcohol. Find other helpful tips in the References.