“A hot flush is a sensation of heat
involving the whole body
and may be associated with redness and sweating”.1
Umbrella
What may the Hot Flushes Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Hot Flash
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flush (HF)
- Hot Flushes
- Menopausal/Menopause Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
- Menopause-Related Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
- Vasomotor Symptoms
- “Power Surges”
Vasomotor Symptoms
What are vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?
DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s definition is:
Hot Flush
What is a hot flush?
The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
Hot Flash
What is a hot flash?
DotS the definition of a hot flash may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:
Night Sweats
What are night sweats?
DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic’s definition is:
The NAMS’ definition is:
Cause
What is the cause of hot flushes?
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. What Are Hot Flashes? What Causes Them To Happen? according to the NAMS:
In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes & Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health note:
Other Causes: Other Conditions
Apart from menopause, what are other causes of hot flushes?
In NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms) the AMS explain causes can include:
- “Other conditions. Not all hot flushes are due to menopause. Other associated conditions include thyroid disease, diabetes, hyperhidrosis (a condition of excessive sweating which affects 1% of people), anxiety and panic disorders, obesity, hormonally active tumors, chronic infections and neurological disorders”.9
Other Causes: Medications
What medications can cause hot flushes?
According to the AMS:
- “Medications. Some medicines can cause hot flushes or make them worse. These include anti-oestrogens: tamoxifen , aromatase inhibitors, toremifene , raloxifene and clomiphene and the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues i.e. goserelin, leuprorelin and nafarelin1. Some non-hormonal treatments for hot flushes, such as venlafaxine, can also cause hot flushes at higher doses”.10
Common or Not
How common are hot flushes?
In the United States, according to the NAMS:
Impact
What impact may hot flushes have?
In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic note:
Heart Disease and Bone Loss
May hot flushes impact risk of heart disease and greater bone loss?
In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic also note:
Lifestyle Changes
What are some lifestyle changes to improve hot flushes?
In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes the (United States) National Institute on Aging elaborate on:
- “Dress in layers that can be removed at the start of a hot flash
- Carry a portable fan to use when a hot flash strikes
- Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine. These can make menopausal symptoms worse
- If you smoke, try to quit, not only for hot flashes, but for your overall health
- Try to maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight or obese may experience more frequent and severe hot flashes
- Explore mind-body practices. Some early-stage research has shown that hypnotherapy and mindfulness meditation could help with management of hot flashes”.14
Most Effective Treatment
Is menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) the most effective treatment for hot flushes?
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016, is:
Stop
When do hot flushes stop?
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. How long will I have hot flashes? the NAMS explain:
“A. Most women experience hot flashes for 6 months to 2 years, although some reports suggest that they last considerably longer—as long as 10 years, depending on when they began. For a small proportion of women, they may never go away. It is not uncommon for women to experience a recurrence of hot flashes more than 10 years after menopause, even into their 70s or beyond. There is no reliable way of predicting when they will start—or stop”.16
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with my hot flushes?
If you would like help with your hot flushes, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“Discuss the pros and cons of various treatments with your doctor. If hot flashes don’t interfere with your life, you probably don’t need treatment. Hot flashes subside gradually for most women, even without treatment, but it can take several years for them to stop”.17
In 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices. 4 the (United States) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health remind us:
“Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care”.18
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Hot Flushes?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Hot Flushes?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Caffeine and Menopause Symptoms? Is There A Link?
- Certain Characteristics Predispose Women To Different Hot Flush and Night Sweat Patterns
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes
- Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
- EMAS Menopause Essentials
- EMAS Replay: Risk Assessment for MHT – When, To Whom, Which, and How Long? [Multiply Languages]
- EMAS Replay: The Relevance of Estrogen and Progestogen Choice for Breast Safety During MHT [Multiply Languages]
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
- HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT: Benefits and Risks
- HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
- Heart Palpitations
- Heart Palpitations
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
- How Does A Hot Flash Feel?
- How Long Does Menopause Last? – Ask Dr Jean
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
- Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
- Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
- Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
- Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are there treatments for hot flashes?
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms?
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause Treatment
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Hot Flushes – Tips for Reducing Hot Flushes
- Menopause: Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause: Medicines To Help You
- Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
- Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
- Menopause: What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use: Hormone Therapy Remains the Most Effective Treatment for Hot Flashes and Other Troublesome Menopause Symptoms, Regardless of a Woman’s Age
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Natural Therapies & Supplements
- News Flash About Hot Flashes: They Can Last Longer Than You Think [+ Video]
- Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes
- Phytoestrogens
- Risks and Benefits of MHT
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Study IDs Non-Hormonal Options for Menopause Symptoms
- Supporting Women Through Menopause
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes & Night Sweats
- Video Series-2021: How Menopause Symptoms Can Affect Your Quality of Life
- Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
- Webinar: Perimenopause
- What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
- Women’s Wellness: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Happen After Menopause [+ Video]
- Women’s Wellness: Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 25 April 2022
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 31 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 31 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/hot-flashes Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. What Are Hot Flashes? What Causes Them To Happen? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes & Night Sweats. Last Updated: 24 March 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 25 April 2022
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 25 April 2022
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/hot-flashes Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 31 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 31 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes. Content Reviewed: 30 September 2021. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-do Accessed: 25 April 2022
- De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. How long will I have hot flashes? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 25 April 2022
- Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 31 August 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 25 April 2022
- 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-menopausal-symptoms-and-complementary-health-practices Accessed: 25 April 2022