How Can I Calm Menopause Hot Flashes?
Written by Sarah Thompson - January 16, 2023
Menopause is a natural process that all women experience at some point in their life. It can be difficult to handle the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. Hot flashes can occur during any stage of the menopausal transition and are often one of the most disruptive symptoms. Thankfully, there are ways to manage them. Here are some tips for calming hot flashes:
- Dress in layers – Staying cool or warm as necessary can help alleviate hot flash episodes. Layering clothing makes it easy to adjust your temperature throughout the day. Wear lightweight fabrics with loose-fitting clothes so you’ll be able to take something off if you become too warm.
- Exercise regularly – Exercise helps reduce stress, which can exacerbate hot flashes during menopause. Even light exercise like walking three times a week can be beneficial.
- Avoid certain foods – Some foods such as spicy dishes and caffeinated drinks may trigger hot flashes due to their effect on body temperature. Keeping track of what you eat and when you experience a hot flash might allow you to identify triggers and avoid them in the future.
- Create a cool environment – Keeping your room cool at night might help reduce or prevent night sweats from occurring while sleeping. Air conditioning or fans may also provide relief from summer heat or other warm climates which could trigger hot flashes during menopause.
- Hormone replacement therapy – For women who want more reliable relief from their menopausal symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be an option for treatment under a doctor's supervision. Hormone Treatment Center offers personalized HRT plans for individuals seeking relief from their menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.*
In addition to these lifestyle modifications which you can make yourself, there are also many non-hormonal treatments available that may offer some relief from your menopausal symptoms without needing medication or hormone therapy:
- Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used successfully to treat severe cases of hot flashes caused by menopause when other treatments have not worked effectively
- Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anti-epileptic drug that has been reported to decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes
- A nonsurgical procedure called nerve cryoablation has been found to reduce hot flash frequency by up to 40%
- Acupuncture has been shown in some studies to improve overall quality of life and reduce bouts of sweating associated with menopause
Generally speaking, it is important to remember that every woman's experience with managing her menopausal symptoms will be different; what works for one woman might not work for another woman and vice versa. Therefore, it is important that each individual discuss her concerns about her menopause journey with healthcare professionals who understand how best to treat her unique situation. For those considering hormone therapy options such as Hormone Treatment Center *, do not forget that additional lifestyle modifications play an essential role in making it easier for women going through this difficult time period of life!
*Advertising content intended only for informational purposes; consult your doctor before beginning any medical treatment plan including HRT