When a woman reaches the stage of life where menopause if imminent, hot flashes are something that they get quite familiar with. However, as with other symptoms of menopause, hot flashes can be treated. Depending on the individual and the severity of the hot flashes, treatment can either lessen the symptom or make it disappear completely. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hot Flashes Menopausal hot flashes are traditionally treated with estrogen therapy. This treatment can be in the form of a pill or a transdermal patch. This type of treatment is also known as Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT. It combines estrogen and progesterone which serves to reduce hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Research has shown us that this type of treatment lessens the severity and frequency of hot flashes by between 80 and 90%. This sounds wonderful except for the fact that long term research studies show cause for belief that this type of treatment increases a woman’s risk for other health issues. These issues include: - Heart disease
- Breast cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Endometrial cancer
Before beginning Hormone Replacement Therapy, it is important to speak with your health care professional and weigh the risks against the benefits. For women who are already genetically predisposed to any of the above conditions, HRT may not be the best option. Medical Treatments Other Than HRTIn addition to Hormone Replacement Therapy, there are other prescription drugs that some women have found beneficial in treating hot flashes. One of these medications is Clonidine. This drug was originally developed for those with high blood pressure. However, some doctors prescribe it for menopausal women who are experiencing hot flashes because it has proven effective in providing relief in some women. The downside is that it can also cause dry mouth, headaches and nausea. Neurontin is another medication that has been prescribed for hot flashes. Though it is used primarily for preventing seizure activity and killing pain caused by Fibromyalgia, it has also been reported to effectively treat hot flashes as well. The downside is that it can cause drowsiness and nausea. There are several types of medications (too many to list!), but the majority of them come with negative side effects, and a women experiencing the symptoms of menopause does not need any extra baggage to deal with. Natural Supplements to Treat Hot FlashesMany people stand firm that natural supplements are the best way of treating hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Some of the top choices for natural treatments include: Wild Yam: The main reason that this supplement is so loved by women experiencing menopause is that is natural source of estrogen. It is also promoted as a safe and effective replacement for HRT. Black Cohosh: This too is a supplement that is said to be a good alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy. Many menopausal women take Black Cohosh to alleviate hot flashes and report wonderful results. Amberen: This supplement has been proven to be effective for relieving hot flashes during its many clinical trials. Like the other supplements, it is reported as being an effective alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy and many women going through menopause sing its praises. Unfortunately, many medical professionals are hesitant to recommend any sort of natural supplement for treating hot flashes. One reason for this is because several supplements meant for menopausal women have been tested and not found scientifically effective. However, with so many women reporting excellent results from these supplements, people are still opting for natural instead of pharmaceutical.
With the unpredictability of the above mentioned occurrence, the best way to have a sense of confidence is by adequately preparing. As a common symptom for menopause hot flashes are an intense experience of heat, rapid heartbeat and may be accompanied by sweating profusely. Menopause normally catches up with women in the 40’s and 50’s just about where one can be subject to undergoing menopause. At this time of life most women are still in the job market and hot flushes can be a thing of great concern at this point. It is for this fact that one needs to learn a few trickery on managing the frequency and severity of the hot flashes. Some of the following tips can be of great help to a woman at risk of hot flashes. Watching what you eatThe old saying of we are what we eat still stands up to date. With relation to hot flashes, it’s all about the temperature scale of what you eat. When about to consume your favorite dishes, it’s advisable that you allow the dish to cool down considerably before you proceed. Still in the food preparation one should avoid the dishes that are high in spices. One should consider a change in diet by trying out cool foods such as salads and pastas. The main reason to avoid spicy and hot food is because both tend to increase your body temperature and in turn making flashes more exacerbating. In the line of diet, the drinks that you take should also be put under consideration. Instead of that hot cup of coffee you can go for the iced tea or fruit juices. If it’s possible during the day when at work and you don’t have control over room temperature, its advantageous to have cold bottle or cup of beverage that you can subsequently place against your neck and forehead to reduce your body temperature. WardrobeThe fabrics that you are clothed in will determine how much body temperature you will posses. You work wardrobe should consist of fabrics that “breathe” much better, thereby regulating the body temperature. Your attire can also consist of layered clothes that can allow you to remove the layers when hot and put them back when the hot temperature changes back to chill which is how hot flashes take place. Time keepingBeing on time can be considered to be earlier than the stipulated time, Therefore when going to work, look to get their earlier so as to give yourself time to rest. This also eliminates the last minute rush that will make you use more muscle and generate a lot of heat raising the body temperature. This will minimize the triggering of hot flashes by rise in body temperature. Be innovativeIn a work place environment you might not have the control over the temperature as you work with other individuals. The best way to escape this hurdle is to be innovative. Consider introducing a small fan at your desk. Apart from a fan if you own that corner desk and you are next to a window try and always keep the window open. Both instances are aimed to help you cool down by circulating some fresh air in the room.
Hot flashes are the one symptom of menopause the women dread. They make the skin flush and then sweat to cool the body down. There are some herbal remedies you can take to control the hot flashes. Hot flashes are caused when the body stops producing estrogen. Estrogen regulates the body’s temperature.
Herbal remedies for hot flashes can be used as a tea, tincture, or decoction. You can use ginseng, evening primrose oil, licorice root, red raspberry leaves, sarsaparilla, and spearmint to lessen the hot flashes. They all add more estrogen to your system like wild yams and black cohosh. They all work together on the symptoms of menopause.
You must have heard about different kinds of post menopause supplements on the news, such as magnesium and black cohosh. In fact, there are so many of them nowadays, that it can be quite hard to keep track of all of them. However, have you asked your doctor which of these supplements would be best for you?
Well, my doctor personally recommends vitamin D and fish oil supplements. I never actually knew that these kinds of supplements existed for post-menopausal women, but they have made quite a difference in my life so far - that's for sure.
What kind of supplements do you take?
Herbal menopause remedies happen to be great alternatives to other more serious treatments, like hormone therapy, but it can be quite hard to decide which ones to choose.
Generally speaking, though, the most common ones are the herbs that have phytoestrogens in them, like soy or black cohosh. However, you need to remember that you might have to use various herbs at different stages of your menopausal years or according to your personal situation. Sometimes, you might even have to use herbal combinations. So, before you embark on a herbal shopping spree, make sure you do your research on menopausal herbs first.
If you have to deal with menopause and hot flashes on a daily basis, then you need to learn how to do so in a silent and calm manner. So, if you suddenly get greeted by a hot flash bout from hell without prior warning, just follow these easy steps.
Firstly, do a quick clothing adjustment if possible and tie up your hair with a trusty hair tie. Then, inch yourself forward so that you don't touch any uncomfortable surfaces and just breathe deeply through your nose.
If you do all of these things without a hint of panic in your eyes, no one will even notice that you went through a hot flash bout - or are going through menopause at the moment. Brilliant, huh?
Aside from being a completely natural stage of life, menopause also seems to be a major cash cow when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry nowadays. In fact, there is a new pill - not mentioning any names now - that is waiting to become FDA-approved as we speak.
Apparently, it is an anti-depressant that is meant to help menopausal women deal with their hot flashes. I may be hormone-happy, but are they saying that menopausal symptoms are actually linked to depressive symptoms? I don't know about you, but I'd definitely think twice before taking anti-depressants for my hot flash bouts, that's for sure. Who's with me?
If you are currently going through menopause, then there are very high chances that you will experience hot flashes at some point, which occur because of the changing levels of hormones inside your body. Most women who suffer from hot flashes during menopause report sudden feelings of heat, some swelling, and a quickened heartbeat that last from two minutes to half an hour. Depending on what your body is like, though, you might experience them several times a day or a few times a week, and how extreme they are will depend on how much your hormones change during menopause.
Most women the world over suffer from menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes. Although these symptoms aren't fatal, however, they can make any woman's life miserable with unwanted discomfort and heat. Plus, hot flashes can also lead to night sweats and sleeping problems, which can also bring about poor concentration, fatigue, memory problems and irritability. The intensity, frequency and duration of these hot flashes will differ from one woman to the next and may be different from one menopausal stage to the next, as well.
Hot Flashes and Menopause
Hot flashes refer to sudden intense versions of what your body would usually do to cool down when faced with too much heat. Basically, the skin's blood vessels will dilate and make you sweat. So, why do you experience hot flashes during menopause while working or driving, even if you aren't faced with too much heat?
Well, the causes for this are only semi-understood. Since hot flashes are connected to hormonal fluctuations, a lot of symptoms may occur during menopause because of this, but a lot of other factors may also play a part.
Should You Look into Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Before you look at hormone replacement therapy, it would be best to look at less drastic and much safer measures first. As with other health problems, it would always be advisable to start with the least aggressive form of treatment for menopausal hot flashes anyway, especially because healthy living makes sense, no matter what.
How to Find Relief for Hot Flashes During Menopause
The first thing you should do is keep a journal that chronicles when your hot flashes appeared, what you ate or did during the time, and how you felt at those moments. What you have to do is find triggers, like spicy or hot foods, alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, or chocolate.
Try to look out for any subtle signs before you experience hot flashes, too. You should be able to stop hot flashes from occurring or make them less intense by touching cold things or drinking cold beverages. Ice packs can be extremely effective early on, as well.
Next, make sure you dress lightly and in layers, so that each layer can be peeled off as you feel warmer. Naturally, this also means that you should dress smart. If you are going to work, for example, make sure you wear a lower layer that you would actually be allowed to wear in the workplace to begin with. It would also be smart to avoid turtlenecks, synthetics, silk or wool. In general, it would be best to opt for cotton, rayon, and linen clothing during this time.
Practicing some cooling exercise will help you a lot, too. Yoga is usually ideal for menopausal women since it can help balance out the endocrine glands, teach you about paced breathing and reduce overall stress. Dietary supplements like black cohosh, soy, vitamin E and red clover can also help control hot flashes, as can other natural supplements, which are not just effective, but completely safe, as well. Just find out what works for you.
|
RSS Feed