Menopause & perimenopause
Just how hot is a hot flash?
Q: Can a women experience a fever during a hot flash? Is the increase in temperature dangerous? I feel like I’m going to spontaneously combust!
A: One woman in our office says she gets “hotter than the hinges of Hades” during her hot flashes. But surprisingly enough, it has been demonstrated that a woman’s core body temperature increases only very slightly during episodes of hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes are not dangerous — just disquieting!
The hormonal hot flash is sometimes described as a peripheral sensation of heat and sweating that occurs when blood vessels in the upper body dilate, allowing a sudden rush of blood into the area.
While the principle cause of hot flashes is fluctuating hormonal levels, it is also the case that lifestyle and emotional factors such as diet, anxiety, and stress play a powerful role in their frequency, duration, and intensity — which explains why they are more of a problem in our culture than in many others.
The good news is that for many women, hot flashes can be reduced, if not eliminated, by using one or more of the following measures, all of which are both safe and effective:
- dietary changes, particularly a reduction of refined carbohydrates and the use of whole soy foods (80–100 mg/day of high-quality soy isoflavones, such as our SoySational);
- relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and biofeedback;
- a selection of safe herbs for menopause, such as chasteberry, Ashwagandha, red clover and black cohosh;
- acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine;
- natural progesterone support.
For additional info on reducing hot flashes and night sweats, see our health symptoms page.
Our Personal Program can get you started on quelling your hot flashes. If you would like to learn more, just give us a call at 1-800-798-7902.
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Our Personal Program is a great place to start
The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
If you have questions, don't hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We're here to listen and help.
We’re always happy to welcome new patients to our medical clinic in Yarmouth, Maine, for those who can make the trip. Click here for information about making an appointment.
Original Publication Date: 10/12/2006
Last Modified: 08/17/2009
Principal Author: Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician