Gayatri P, a homemaker from Mangalore in Karnataka, experienced severe hot flashes for almost six years before reaching menopause at the age of 54. She recalls experiencing the sudden rush of temperature, palpitations and profuse sweating at social gatherings. “My friends and family would worry assuming I had a cardiac arrest,” she recalls. “Sweating profusely in a kanjeewaram silk saree has left huge sweat stains on the fabric. It was almost like having an unpleasant bath,” she tells Happiest Health.
Hot flashes, which begin years before menopause, can be mild or debilitating and vary in duration and frequency. They are the most prevalent vasomotor symptoms (symptoms resulting from temperature dysfunction that occurs due to changes in gonadal hormones during menopause) that women experience in the years leading up to menopause (cessation in the menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months).
According to the menopause booklet of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), one in two women suffer from hot flashes during menopause.
What does menopause hot flash feel like?
Hot flashes are the sudden rush of heat in the upper body (face, chest and neck). “They are intermittent and irregular, too,” explains Dr Sushma Tomar, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai. These flashes are marked by increased body temperature, redness, palpitations, profuse sweating, irritability and in some cases, a burning sensation, she adds.
Why do women experience them?
“The hormonal changes in the body — specifically, the drastic reduction in the production of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the ovaries — during menopause and perimenopause lead to hot flashes,” informs Dr Sudeshna Ray, gynecologist and obstetrician, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai.
“It is normal for women to have hot flashes during menopause,” explains Dr Tomar. It is important for women to understand the reason behind them to deal with the situation better, she adds.
Along with intermittent hot flashes, menopausal women experience a plethora of menopause symptoms during this transition period. This includes bloating, fatigue, night sweats, vaginal atrophy (drying up of the vagina), urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control), skin irritation and joint aches, explains Dr Shanthala Thuppanna, head obstetrician and gynecologist, Sakra World Hospital, Bangalore. Alongside the physiological symptoms, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, anger, depression and mood swings are common, too, she adds.
How often do women experience such symptoms?
Hot flashes, which affect women between the ages of 40 to 50 years on average, are sudden and irregular. A mild episode can last for 30 seconds to five minutes, explains Dr Tomar. But if it lasts for 30 minutes or more, it is severe. These flashes are frequently accompanied by palpitations and sleeplessness too, she points out. Experts share that severe cases can require medical intervention as well.
The link between hot flashes and sleeplessness
The National Menopause Foundation, US, highlights that almost half the women experiencing menopause deal with insomnia. Women can experience hot flashes during sleep, too. Profuse sweating and palpitations can affect the quality of sleep among women, shares Dr Tomar. The reduction in the sleep-inducing hormone, progesterone, can be blamed, say experts.
Does smoking affect hot flashes?
A 2015 study titled ‘Does quitting smoking decrease the risk of midlife hot flashes? A longitudinal analysis’ conducted by US researchers studied women aged 45-54 years for up to 7 years and revealed lifestyle habits like smoking increases the risk of hot flashes in women. While non-smokers had lesser chances of developing these flashes, women who quit smoking were less likely to suffer from them, or the severity and frequency would be lesser than those who continued to smoke.
How to manage hot flashes
Dr Thuppanna recommends that hot flashes can be managed through environmental and lifestyle modifications. Washing the face regularly with cold water, using coolers or air conditioners explains regular visits to parks or gardens help mitigate the burning sensation due to hot flashes, says Dr Thuppanna. Practicing meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises regularly also help, she adds. Further, it is important to stay hydrated. Wearing loose clothes made from natural fibers such as cotton is essential, advises Dr Tomar.
When lifestyle changes do not help and the menopause symptoms are severe and/or debilitating, one can opt for three to six months of low-dose menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to increase estrogen hormone levels, informs Dr Tomar.
Takeaways
- Hot flashes are a common vasomotor symptom in menopausal women.
- Symptoms include a rise in body temperature, redness, palpitations, profuse sweating, irritability and a burning sensation.
- Smoking increases their risk and severity or frequency.
- Mild to moderate flashes can be mitigated through environmental and lifestyle modifications.
