Symptoms — hot flashes & night sweats

The real causes of hot flashes & night sweats

“I don’t know who it was who named them hot flashes — mine would last at least 15— 20 minutes! My night sweats were so bad I literally would have to change the sheets in the middle of the night. Now, I’m having no symptoms, no night sweats — nothing.” — Lynnea, Personal Program Member

Hot flashes and night sweats are so common during menopause that women are led to believe the two go hand-in-hand. But this assumption is misleading for women approaching menopause — and downright confusing for women in their 20’s and 30’s who suffer from hot flashes or night sweats.

Once you understand the real cause of hot flashes you’ll see that not all hot flashes and night sweats are signs of menopause, nor are they an inevitable part of being menopausal!

So what’s the real cause of hot flashes and night sweats, and what can you do — no matter what your age — to get relief?

Hot flashes and your hormones

Hormonal balance is your body’s natural state. But when there are too many demands on your body, its ability to balance your hormones is overwhelmed. The resulting hormonal imbalance gives rise to hot flashes or night sweats.

Basically, the heat-regulatory area of the brain is “tricked” into thinking the body needs to dispel heat, causing it to send out signals for blood vessels to dilate, heart rate to increase, and sweat glands to open. The result is the unpleasant rush of heat, perspiration, dizziness, and pounding heart that characterize hot flashes.

The demands that create hormonal imbalance tend to peak in perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause), which is why hot flashes are commonly thought of as a menopause symptom. But women can experience hormonal imbalance at any stage in their lives. It’s just your body’s way of asking for help.

Some factors increase your likelihood of experiencing hot flashes. Women with high levels of anxiety are up to five times as likely to experience hot flashes and night sweats. Being overweight contributes to hot flashes as well, and smoking can double your risk. Certain foods like sugar, caffeine, alcohol and hot spices trigger hot flashes in some women. We encourage you to listen to your body and respond.

The risk of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for hot flashes

In the past, HRT was the conventional solution to hot flashes associated with menopause. For over 25 years we have recommended instead that your first choice should be to support your body in a natural way. This gets at the underlying problem and produces the best long-term results — without the risks of prescription drugs commonly used in hormone replacement therapy. Many women find that with the proper support, their own bodies can correct the hormonal imbalance that is the real cause of their hot flashes or night sweats.

Of course, the choice to use HRT is a personal one. We simply want to improve your health choices and support you in what you decide is best for you. (See our article on the health risks of HRT.)

Natural relief for hot flashes and night sweats

The good news is that you can solve the underlying causes of hot flashes, naturally. The basic approach is to increase the support you give your body. Over time, you should also try to reduce or manage the demands you experience. You will find that this approach to hot flash relief will help relieve other symptoms of hormonal imbalance as well.

How do you increase the support and so get relief from hot flashes? In over 25 years of medical practice, we’ve helped tens of thousands of women find a personal solution to hormonal balance. And now we offer that program for your use at home.

Click here to return to the Symptoms page.

For more detailed information, see our full article on hot flashes and night sweats in menopause.

 

Last Modified: 02/16/2010