Vasomotor Symptoms Of Menopause: What They Are And More

What Are Vasomotor Symptoms?

A common experience that many women aged between 45 and 55 face is the vasomotor symptoms of menopause. This fancy medical word refers to things like hot flashes, night sweats, and chills.

Imagine this: You’re sipping on your favourite tea, wearing your most comfortable clothes, and watching a movie, and out of nowhere, you feel a sudden surge of heat on your face and neck, so much so that you are almost on the brink of sweating. It is common to start fanning yourself as a result of this intense heat. This experience is referred to as hot flashes, which is one of the most frequently reported vasomotor symptoms.

1. Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense heat that often start in the chest or face and spread throughout the body. They can cause:

• Flushed Skin: Your face, neck, and chest may turn red or blotchy.
• Sweating: Many women experience heavy sweating, particularly on the upper body.
• Heart Palpitations: You might feel your heart racing or pounding.
• Anxiety Or Discomfort: The abruptness of a hot flash can leave you feeling unsettled or stressed.

Regardless of how brief they are, they can typically range from 30 seconds to a few minutes. They occur a few times a week or, in severe cases, multiple times a day. 

2. Night Sweats  

• Night sweats are the counterpart of hot flashes during the night. You are asleep, in a comfortable position, sleeping peacefully, and then you wake up to find your sheets wet as though you ran a marathon. The efficient sleep breach disorder you experience is known as night sweats. This causes you to wake up feeling completely fatigued and irritable the next day.

3. Chills  

• After a hot flash or night sweats, just when you believe that was it, those chills start. For one moment, your temperature is too high, and for the next, you are almost groping for a blanket as you have gotten too cold. It’s as if your body is experiencing a bit of confusion!  

4. Skin Sensations  

• Here’s another aspect, just like rubbing salt in the wound: Some women report experiencing a peculiar tingling or prickling sensation in their skin during hot flashes. It is as if your body is adding an extra layer of syndrome.

Causes Of Vasomotor Symptoms

Have you ever wondered what causes these menopausal changes? The popular answer is fluctuating hormone levels, which is the main reason. But what if we told you that even environmental and lifestyle factors can regulate these changes?!  Let’s break these down for better understanding:

1. Hormonal Changes During Menopause

Estrogen is the gonadal hormone that keeps body temperature and other body functions in check. Estrogen levels decline sharply as one goes through menopause, which creates problems with the part of the brain that regulates temperature—the hypothalamus. 

Research suggests that the sequence of events runs as follows:

• Your brain perceives the wrong message that your body is getting too hot.
• Sweating, along with rapid vasodilatation, results in a flushed, sweaty feel. It is a communicative process for the rest of the body to quicken the cooling process. 
• This whole process is experienced as hot flashes or night sweats.

2. Lifestyle And Environmental Triggers

While hormonal changes set the stage, some lifestyle activities and environmental triggers can turn up the heat and make it worse. Some factors that can worsen or increase the frequency of menopausal symptoms include: 

a) Hot Drinks And Spicy Foods: Late coffee or spicy curry can be comforting, but al the same time, it can also heat up your body.

b) Alcohol: A glass of wine may seem relaxing, but it’s known to trigger hot flashes in some women.

c) Stress: Feeling stressed out? Your body may experience even more hot flashes. Stress can initiate such reactions. 

d) Hot Environments: People may experience more sweating when exposed to a warm room or tightly wrapped in heavy clothes. The condition gets worse in menopause. 

Now, before you start saying, “Why me?” and shaking your head, remember this: You are not alone. Millions of women experience this, and while all these symptoms sound like a lot, the good news is that there is help available to fight them. 

Managing Vasomotor Symptoms

The happy news is that when you learn about these triggers, you can work on preventing them. By controlling your lifestyle and managing your surroundings, you can regain some control over these symptoms. 

1. Home Remedies And Lifestyle Adjustments

As we typically begin with the remedy, let us suggest things that can be done right in the comfort of your home.

a) Stay Cool

In order to ensure comfort during hot flashes, ensure that your sleeping area is cool and well-ventilated. 

• Make use of an air conditioner or fan, particularly at night, and it will prove useful. 
• When dressing up, wear layers to remove clothing when feeling hot. 
• Choose breathable fabrics like cotton for your clothes and bedding.

b) Mind Your Food Intake

• Try to stay away from caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods as they are hot flash triggers. 
• Moreover, make sure to drink enough water during the day in order to stay hydrated.
• In foods, include phytoestrogens like soy and flaxseeds to try out the remedy as they mimic estrogen, which helps to regulate hot flashes. 

c) Relaxation Techniques

• Deep breathing meditation is another go-to remedy, along with self-practice, such as yoga.

d) Adopt A Healthy Lifestyle

• Maintain a healthy weight; extra weight can make hot flashes worse.
• Get regular exercise—it’s great for managing stress and balancing hormones.
• Quit smoking, as it’s linked to more severe menopausal symptoms.

2. Medical Treatments And Options

When home care management is insufficient, then medications can be helpful, so talk to your healthcare expert about the options below:

a) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Vasomotor symptoms are best treated with HRT. This therapy consists of using estrogen and, in some cases, progesterone to balance hormone levels.

You should always consult with your practitioner before undergoing HRT so that your health background can be properly assessed. 

b) Non-Hormonal Medications

SSRIs class of some antidepressants have been related to an improvement in the frequency of hot flashes.

Gabapentin, which is an agent that treats nerve pain disorder, is also effective for night sweats.

c) Prescription Skin Patches Or Gels

The low-dose estrogen patches and gels that are available today have the potential to be the most appealing option for women who prefer not to take oral medication.

d) Alternative Therapies

The Ayurveda system interprets menopause through a completely different lens, providing herbs, diet, yoga, and lifestyle changes that assist in addressing the issue. After reading the lifestyle part, you should have known what lifestyle changes you can adopt to address the issue. Ayurveda can guide you through its principles while correcting your lifestyle, and the best part is that these are tailor-made for your unique health needs.

Instead of looking directly at the body, Ayurveda focuses on an individual by seeking balance in the physical, mental, and emotional state. It can manage symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, which occur due to vasomotor activities through herbal supplements, lifestyle correction, yoga and proper diet.

If you want to explore more on natural remedies for hot flashes, read our article “Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes: Effective Relief During Menopause.”

There is no guaranteed way to control vasomotor symptoms, so you might have to try some corresponding methods that suit you. Just keep in mind that it is normal. All you have to do is act wisely and take the necessary steps with proper professional advice.

Navigate the next session to find out when you should be seeking medical help for your condition associated with vasomotor symptoms of menopause.

When To Seek Professional Help

Even though some women experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, these symptoms should not be a cause of concern throughout. When in doubt, it is better to discuss the symptoms with a healthcare professional, as more often than not, having a perspective helps in understanding the matter better. The following are instances of when to seek professional help.

1. When Symptoms Affect Your Daily Life

If common vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, or even dizziness are troubling you in your ability to peacefully engage in day-to-day activities, then it is mandatory to consult a doctor. Symptoms that become irritable and troublesome to the extent of preventing sleep are extensive reasons to visit for help.

2. When Symptoms Are Severe Or Unusual

Not all hot flashes are created equal. If your symptoms are unusually intense, last longer than expected, or are accompanied by other worrying signs like chest pain, dizziness, or rapid heartbeats, it’s crucial to get checked out to rule out other health issues.

3. When Home Remedies Aren’t Enough

If you think that cooling the room and maintaining a proper diet is not helping your body function normally, consult a professional immediately. If you feel like you need further assistance, medication would do the trick, but it is better to consult a professional to suggest which would be the best fit.

4. When You Have Other Health Issues

Menopause does not occur in isolation. For some, menopause is a side effect of dealing with diabetes, hypertension, or osteoporosis, and it is crucial to work with your doctor to find safe and effective ways to manage the symptoms in these instances.

5. When You’re Unsure About Your Options

Dealing with menopause can be complex, especially with so many treatment options at your disposal.  If you are unsure about what best fits your needs, seeking professional help will walk you through the entire process.

Don’t endure on such discomfort for too long. Vasomotor symptom management can be simple if done within the right context. Getting in contact with a healthcare professional is the first step towards feeling normal once more. Do not hesitate to put yourself first!

Dealing with menopause alone can be troublesome at times. If you feel like you need a helping hand, Nirva Health strives to make it easier for you with our top specialists. We will set you up with a wellness plan that is made to help you manage and deal with the symptoms of menopause. 

We invite you to be a part of the customised service we are providing for our clients. Here is what one of our happy clients said about us:

Wrapping It Up

The change that menopause is associated with does feel like a lot, but the good thing is that it is completely a natural part of life! Recognising why and what causes vasomotor symptoms, along with how to manage them effectively, can significantly aid in making the transition easier. This could include easy and straightforward changes to your lifestyle or more impactful remedies, and you can always treat yourself better if you are in control of them.

It’It’sportant to remember that no menopausal journey is the same – every womwoman’snopausal journey is different. DonDon’t hard on yourself while finding useful strategies to manage your very own symptoms. With the right help and strategy at hand, crossing this phase becomes an easier and more enjoyable experience as it brings with it various new options and opportunities.