Hot Flushes

“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:

“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.2

Hot Flush

What is a hot flush?

The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“A hot flush is a sensation of heat involving the whole body and may be associated with redness and sweating”.3

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:

Hot Flushes

“A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. Your skin might redden, as if you’re blushing. A hot flash can also cause sweating. If you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward”.4

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:

“Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night, and they may disrupt your sleep”.5

The NAMS’ definition is:

“Hot flashes often occur during sleep, producing intense perspiration known as night sweats”.6

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:

“Although their exact cause still isn’t fully understood, hot flashes are thought to be the result of changes in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates the body’s temperature. If the hypothalamus senses that a woman is too warm, it starts a chain of events to cool her down. Blood vessels near the surface of the skin begin to dilate (enlarge), increasing blood flow to the surface in an attempt to dissipate body heat. This produces a red, flushed look to the face and neck in light-skinned women. It may also make a woman perspire to cool the body down. Women may sense their hearts beating faster. A cold chill often follows a hot flash. A few women experience only the chill.”.7

In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes & Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health note:

“The causes of hot flushes are complex and not completely understood. It seems lower oestrogen levels affect parts of the brain that provide the thermostat for body temperature. Many studies show stress and anxiety can influence the frequency and intensity of hot flushes and sometimes certain foods or alcohol can also have an impact”.8

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:

“Hot flashes are reported by as many as 75% of perimenopausal women in the United States”.11

Impact

What impact may hot flushes have?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic note:

“Hot flashes may impact your daily activities and quality of life. Nighttime hot flashes (night sweats) can wake you from sleep and, over time, can cause long-term sleep disruptions”.12

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:

“Research suggests that women who have hot flashes may have an increased risk of heart disease and greater bone loss than women who do not have hot flashes”.13

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:

“MHT, including tibolone and the combination of conju-gated equine estrogens and bazedoxifene (CE/BZA), is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause at any age, but benefits are more likely to outweigh risks if initiated for symptomatic women before the age of 60 years or within 10 years after menopause”.15

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:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hot Flushes?

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Links

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  1. 5 of the Most Common Questions About Menopause
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  5. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  6. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Caffeine and Menopause Symptoms? Is There A Link?
  9. Certain Characteristics Predispose Women To Different Hot Flush and Night Sweat Patterns
  10. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  12. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  13. Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes
  14. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  17. Fast Facts: HRT and Breast Cancer Risk
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  22. HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  23. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  24. HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
  25. Heart Palpitations
  26. Heart Palpitations
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  28. Hot Flashes
  29. Hot Flashes
  30. Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
  31. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes
  32. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes
  33. Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
  34. How Does A Hot Flash Feel?
  35. How Long Does Menopause Last? – Ask Dr Jean
  36. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  37. Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
  38. Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
  39. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  40. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  41. Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle Changes To Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  44. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  45. Menopause
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  50. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are there treatments for hot flashes?
  51. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms?
  52. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hot Flushes
  54. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Hot Flushes
  55. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  56. Menopause Treatment
  57. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  58. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  59. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  60. Menopause: Hot Flushes – Tips for Reducing Hot Flushes
  61. Menopause: Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  62. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  63. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  64. Menopause: Non-Hormonal Treatment & Relief for Hot Flashes
  65. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  66. Menopause: What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  67. 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
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  76. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  77. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  78. News Flash About Hot Flashes: They Can Last Longer Than You Think [+ Video]
  79. Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  80. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  81. Paced Breathing: Can It Help With Hot Flashes?
  82. Perimenopause
  83. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes
  84. Phytoestrogens
  85. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  86. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
  87. Study IDs Non-Hormonal Options for Menopause Symptoms
  88. Supporting Women Through Menopause
  89. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes & Night Sweats
  90. Video Series-2019: Advances In Our Understanding of the Etiology/Mechanisms of Hot Flashes
  91. Video Series-2020: TSECs—A New Treatment Option for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  92. Video Series-2020: What You Need to Know About Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  93. Video Series-2021: How Menopause Symptoms Can Affect Your Quality of Life
  94. Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
  95. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  96. Webinars: Previous – Breast Cancer
  97. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  98. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  99. Women’s Wellness: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Happen After Menopause [+ Video]
  100. Women’s Wellness: Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. 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
  2. Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 25 April 2022
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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

Topic Last Updated: 25 April 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 April 2022
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