Everything You Need to Know About Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a hot topic amongst women. And we are talking literally!
There are many different reasons that you can experience hot flashes and at all stages of life as well.
When we talk about hot flashes, we mean that sensation where you instantly feel a change in your body temperature. It takes over fast and leaves you feeling hot, flushed and even sweaty.
Hot flashes are likely something that every woman will experience at one point or another in their life. This is because you can experience hot flashes pregnancy symptoms or menopause hot flashes, both occurring at different ages and times in one’s life.
Because of this, we want you to know everything there is to know about hot flashes. That is why we have created the ultimate guide to help you feel more informed and in the loop the next time you feel your internal body temperature spike up out of nowhere.
Defining a Hot Flash
It is important to remember that there is a big difference between a fever, being overheated and a hot flash. Fevers tend to develop gradually as the body fights an illness. Overheating can happen when external temperatures are extreme or the humidity in the air is high.
But a hot flash will occur on the inside of the body and come with a range of other symptoms as well. This will include feeling a tingling sensation in your fingers, an increased heart rate, your skin feeling hot to the touch, a glowy and flushed look in your skin and sweating.
The biggest sign that you are experiencing a hot flash is that it will hit you out of nowhere. One moment you are comfortable. The next you can feel your body burning up.
What to Do if You Have a Hot Flash
Don’t panic if you are experiencing a hot flash. They tend to go nearly as quickly as they left. In general, hot flashes will last anywhere between a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The best thing to do in this instance is trying to calm your body and relax. The more you stress, the more physically overheated your body will likely become.
But it is also important to note that the frequency of hot flashes varies as well. Some women experience them sporadically. Others get them consistently. It really comes down to the cause of the hot flash that determines their routine frequency of them.
The Causes of a Hot Flash
There are many different reasons that your body experiences a hot flash. In fact, it is still being studied widely by experts in the health industry. Two of the most common reasons that women experience a hot flash is because they are entering a later phase of their pregnancy or they are undergoing menopause.
While there is really no way that has been discovered to cure hot flashes, there are plenty of treatments to help you manage them. This ranges from home remedies, creams, therapies and medications. Talking to your doctor to determine the best course of action is always advisable.
But there are also other reasons that women can experience hot flashes. This includes consuming too much coffee or alcohol, being stressed or overwhelmed or eating foods that do not agree with you.
It is also important to remember that it is not just women who can experience hot flashes. Men can experience them too if their hormone levels drop too much. This is usually a sign of prostate cancer and should be checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Long Term Treatments
One of the most interesting and exciting developments when it comes to hot flashes are the long term treatment options. The more research that is coming out, the more that hormones play a huge role in hot flashes. That is why hormone therapy and estrogen treatments are proving to be a productive way of helping women manage their hot flashes symptoms better.
There are also other alternative therapies such as acupuncture that are proving promising as well. Of course, there are also lifestyle changes that women can make too. This includes a balanced diet, a regular exercise routine and staying hydrated.
One of the most important things to remember is that you are not alone in dealing with hot flashes. Many women have dealt with this rather warmer part of life and come out on the other side.
Hot flashes are a part of life and can signal many different things that are happening in someone’s life.