Hot Flashes: Causes, Treatments, and How to Manage Them 

What Are Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes are sudden onset and episodic sensations of warmth usually felt on your chest, neck and face that are immediately followed by sweating. It can increase your heart rate and lead to dizziness.

How long do hot flashes last? The duration of hot flashes vary based on its cause – it can last anywhere from 30 seconds up to 10 minutes.  

When hot flashes happen at night, it is called night sweats. Night sweats are sudden episodes of sweating, making you feel hot and drenching your pillow and clothes. Following this episode, you may feel a chill or shiver.

What do hot flashes feel like? Here’s what our senior ayurvedic expert has to say:

Common Causes of Hot Flashes

Though the term “hot flashes” is most commonly used while talking about menopausal symptoms, there are many other conditions that cause them, like hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, medications, underlying health issues and so on. Let us look at the common causes of hot flashes.

1. Hormonal Changes

• According to a study, the decline in oestrogen levels during menopause causes abnormal temperature regulation by the hypothalamus causing hot flashes.
• Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy cause hot flashes.
• Hot flashes and night sweats can occur up to 6 weeks postpartum (after having a baby) due to hormone changes.

2. Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors that can cause hot flashes are:

• A diet containing spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol.
• Emotional stress increases cortisol and causes hormonal fluctuations.
• Engaging in intense exercises in a hot environment.
• Wearing tight, non-breathable clothing and synthetic fabrics.
• Smoking can affect your blood vessels and disrupt oestrogen levels.
• Obesity causes higher resting body temperature, which increases the chances of hot flashes.
• Sleeping in a hot room or using heavy blankets can cause night sweats.

3. Health Conditions

Underlying health concerns may also be the reason you experience hot flashes. Some of these medical conditions are:

a. Hyperthyroidism

• Hyperthyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland secretes too much thyroid hormones. It can cause hot flashes along with palpitations and sleep disturbances.

b. Hormone-Sensitive Cancers

• These types of cancers depend on hormones to grow and spread. Ovarian, breast, uterine and thyroid cancers and prostate cancers in men can cause hormonal changes leading to hot flashes.

c. Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

• POI is a condition where your ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40. This causes a decline in oestrogen levels, leading to hot flashes.

d. Diabetes

• Insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances and frequent changes in blood sugar levels can result in hot flashes.

4. Medications and Treatments

Certain medications and treatments can cause hormone imbalances and hot flashes as their side effects. The main ones are:

a. Treatment for Hormone-Sensitive Cancers:

• Medications used to treat oestrogen-sensitive cancers (ovarian, breast and endometrial cancers) that reduce oestrogen levels.

b. GnRH Agonists:

• A medication used to treat endometriosis (a condition where the tissue lining the insides of your uterus starts growing outside the uterus) and fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus) that lower oestrogen in the body.

c. Oophorectomy (surgical removal of one or both ovaries):

• This surgery results in less or no release of oestrogen from the ovaries.

Other common medications and treatments that cause hot flashes by disrupting hormone levels are:

• Chemotherapy medicines
• Diabetes medications like insulin
• Certain steroid medications
• Medications to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone production) like levothyroxine
• Antipsychotic medications

5. Environmental Factors

Certain environmental factors can also increase the chances of hot flashes like:

• A very hot and humid climate can make it harder for your body to regulate its temperature and stay cool, triggering hot flashes.
• Sleeping in a poorly ventilated, hot room can cause night sweats.

Treatment Options for Hot Flashes

Several treatment options are available to treat hot flashes. It is important to identify what triggers your hot flashes so that your doctor can treat them effectively. Treatment for hot flashes includes both hormonal and non-hormonal medicines. Here are some commonly used treatment options to reduce or stop hot flashes:

1. Over-The-Counter Remedies

These include the use of dietary supplements and products that can cool down your body during the episodes of hot flashes. Some of them are:

a. Phytoestrogen Supplements:

• Phytoestrogens are plant-based molecules that mimic oestrogen in the body. It is found in soy, flaxseeds, red clover, sesame seeds and so on. Supplements containing phytoestrogen mimic oestrogen and relieve hot flashes.

b. Vitamin E:

• A study has proven that vitamin E capsules helped to reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes.

c. Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

• Consuming fish oil supplements provides your body with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which regulate hormones and reduce the severity of hot flashes.

d. Cooling Products:

• Using cooling products like cooling sprays or face mists, wet towels, or wearable cooling devices like a neck cooling ring or fan can help regulate your body temperature during hot flashes.

2. Prescription Medications

Your doctor may prescribe hormonal or non-hormonal medications to treat hot flashes.

Commonly used non-hormonal medicines are:

• Low-dose antidepressants to reduce the frequency of hot flashes.
• Gabapentin, a medicine used for treating nerve pain and seizures, acts on the central nervous system and effectively reduces hot flashes, especially night sweats.
• Clonidine, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure, can stimulate the hypothalamus and regulate body temperature.

3. Hormone Replacement Therapy

If over-the-counter supplements and non-hormonal medicines do not reduce hot flashes, or if your hot flashes and night sweats are severe and more frequent and disrupt your daily life, your doctor may prescribe HRT.

HRT involves administration of oestrogen alone or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone to reduce hot flashes. These hormones may be administered in the form of pills, skin patches, gels or injections.

HRT is the main treatment option for hot flashes in women after menopause.

However, HRT is not suitable for everyone – In women with a history of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, heart diseases, blood clots or high blood pressure, hormonal treatments for hot flashes may increase the risk of these health issues.

Managing Hot Flashes With Home Remedies

Several natural therapies have shown promising results in treating hot flashes. Here are some scientifically proven natural remedies to ease hot flashes:

1. Herbs to Relieve Hot Flashes

• Soy contains the phytoestrogen ‘soy isoflavones’, which can reduce the frequency of hot flashes in menopausal women.
• Black cohosh in the dose of 40 mg/day is capable of achieving a significant reduction in hot flashes (particularly in women with intense hot flashes).
• The root extract of asparagus (Shatavari), an Ayurvedic herb, is proven to reduce hot flashes and night sweats due to its cooling nature.
• Indian ginseng (Ashwagandha) is useful to reduce symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.
• Evening primrose oil can reduce the frequency, severity and duration of hot flashes.

Though these natural remedies can give you relief from hot flashes, it is important that you consult a healthcare provider regarding the right treatments and dosage for you. 

2. Lifestyle Changes

Making simple changes in your lifestyle can help you beat the hot flashes. Here are some tips you can incorporate to stay more comfortable:

• Keep your room well-ventilated and cool. Use an air conditioner or a fan if the climate is too hot and humid.
• Dress in loose-fitting layers of clothing so that you can adjust it easily when you feel hot.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity can cause a rise in your body temperature.
• Avoid intense workouts in a very hot climate. Moderate exercises like walking or cycling can help you stay fit and reduce the risk of hot flashes.
• Practise stress-relieving yoga techniques like Sheetali Pranayama (cooling breath technique) to keep your body cool.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Massaging your body, especially the scalp and feet with a cooling medicated oil can help. A gentle massage with coconut oil can do wonders in reducing hot flashes.

3. Dietary Recommendations

Including certain foods that can keep your body nourished, hydrated and cool can help reduce hot flashes. Foods that have low-fat content and are plant-based are ideal for reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Foods that are beneficial include:

• Whole grains
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Berries
• Nuts
• Phytoestrogen-rich foods like soy products, flaxseeds, sesame seeds and lentils.
• Brown rice
• Low-fat dairy products (if you are not lactose intolerant)
• Gooseberries
• Dried raisins

Certain foods can act as triggers and worsen your hot flashes and night sweats. Here’s a list of foods to limit if you experience hot flashes:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Spicy foods
• Very oily and fatty foods
• Foods high in sodium, like salted snacks and pickles
• Sugary foods and artificial sweeteners
• Processed foods

Read more about Ayurvedic dietary recommendations for hot flashes.

When to Consult a Doctor

Are hot flashes disrupting your daily life? If you don’t find any difference in the severity or frequency of hot flashes even after using over-the-counter remedies, natural methods, lifestyle changes or dietary recommendations, you should seek medical care.

Our expert team is here to help you manage hot flashes. Book an appointment with top-class Ayurveda and Yoga practitioners at Nirva Health! 

Wrap Up

Hot flashes can be a very uncomfortable symptom, which may disrupt your daily activities, disturb your sleep and leave you anxious and tired. 

Hot flashes happen not just during menopause – both men and women may experience this symptom due to hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, health conditions or certain medications.

Don’t let hot flashes take control of your life. Explore the different treatments and remedies to manage it and stay healthy and comfortable.