It used to be said that menopause-related hot flashes fade away after six to 24 months. But for many women, hot flashes and night sweats often last a lot longer—by some estimates seven to 11 years. Hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms, are often described as a sudden sensation of heat in the chest, face, and head followed by flushing, perspiration, and sometimes chills.
The SWAN researchers found that some women are more likely to deal with long-term hot flashes than others. But, if you are bothered by hot flashes, there are some steps you can take. Try to take note of what triggers your hot flashes and how much they bother you. This can help you make better decisions about managing your symptoms. Before considering medication, first try making changes to your lifestyle. If hot flashes keep you up at night , lower the temperature in your bedroom and try drinking small amounts of cold water before bed.
Layer your bedding so it can be adjusted as needed and turn on a fan. Here are some other lifestyle changes you can make:. If lifestyle changes are not enough to improve your symptoms, nonhormone options for managing hot flashes may work for you.
These may be a good choice if you are unable to take hormones for health reasons, such as not having a uterus, or if you are worried about the potential risks. The U. Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night, and they may disrupt your sleep. Although other medical conditions can cause them, hot flashes most commonly are due to menopause — the time when menstrual periods become irregular and eventually stop.
In fact, hot flashes are the most common symptom of the menopausal transition. The frequency and intensity of hot flashes vary among women. A single episode may last a minute or two — or as long as 5 minutes. Hot flashes may be mild or so intense that they disrupt daily activities. They can happen at any time of day or night.
Nighttime hot flashes night sweats may wake you from sleep and can cause long-term sleep disruptions. How often hot flashes occur varies among women, but most women who report having hot flashes experience them daily.
On average, hot flash symptoms persist for more than seven years. Some women have them for more than 10 years. If hot flashes affect your daily activities or nighttime sleep, consider seeing your doctor to discuss treatment options. Hot flashes are most commonly caused by changing hormone levels before, during and after menopause.
It's not clear exactly how hormonal changes cause hot flashes. But most research suggests that hot flashes occur when decreased estrogen levels cause your body's thermostat hypothalamus to become more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature. The Canadian Natural Health Products Regulations ensure that these products are safe, are of high quality, and actually do what they claim that they do. Canadian regulations require that all natural health products have a product license before they can be sold, and they must be produced at a site that also has a license.
Supplements in the United States are not regulated in this fashion, and the buyer should be aware of this lack of regulation. Products are typically not pulled from the market until after people have been harmed.
Dietary supplements or herbal therapies can interact with prescription drugs, resulting in either increased or decreased effects of the drug, the supplement, or both.
Until clinical trials provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness and safety of any given supplement, it is always best to speak to your clinician before using any dietary supplements in the United States and to inform your physician if you are already taking them. How can I find a menopause specialist? The North American Menopause Society maintains a search feature on this website for those women in the United States or Canada who are looking for an expert interested in helping them manage their health through menopause and beyond.
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