Overview
A hot flash is a sudden feeling of intense body heat. Your head, neck, and chest may get red. Your heartbeat may speed up, and you may feel anxious. You may find that hot flashes occur more often in warm rooms or during stressful times.
It's common to have hot flashes at some point before or after menopause. Hot flashes happen when estrogen levels drop. You may have few to no hot flashes, or you may have them many times each day.
Hot flashes can be uncomfortable and upsetting. They can lower the quality of your sleep and daily life. But they aren't a sign of a medical problem. They are a normal response to natural changes in your body.
Hot flashes usually get better or go away after the first or second year after menopause. At that point, estrogen levels usually stay at a low level.
You can try lifestyle changes that may help you manage or reduce your hot flashes.
- Avoid using tobacco or drinking a lot of alcohol.
- Manage stress.
- Exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet.
You also can talk to your doctor about treatments that may either reduce or stop your hot flashes. These include taking hormone therapy and certain medicines.
