Hot Flushes

“Around 3 in 4 women experience hot flushes
and night sweats around the time of menopause.
A hot flush begins as a sudden feeling or wave of heat…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hot Flushes Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cold Flashes
  • 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 (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) 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?

DotS the definition of a hot flush may vary. In Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms – Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Around 3 in 4 women experience hot flushes and night sweats around the time of menopause.

A hot flush begins as a sudden feeling or wave of heat in the face, neck and upper chest. They can also spread over the whole body. Hot flushes often come on suddenly and randomly, and usually last 1 to 5 minutes.

The flushes can feel like a burning, overheating sensation. You might also have reddening of the skin and you might start sweating.”.3

Hot Flash

What is a hot flash?

DotS the definition of a hot flash may vary. In Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats the Menopause Society’s definition is:

Hot Flushes“Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden, intense sensation of heat in the upper body—particularly the face, neck, and chest. Each hot flash episode typically lasts between 1 and 5 minutes and may be accompanied by sweating, chills, and anxiety. Some women can feel a rapid heartbeat at the same time. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep. Chills can also occur, resulting in shivering”.4

Night Sweats

What are night sweats?

DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night. They can disturb sleep”.5

Cause

What is the cause of hot flushes?

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

“Changing hormone levels before, during and after menopause are the most common causes of hot flashes. It’s not clear how hormonal changes cause hot flashes.

But most research suggests that hot flashes happen when lower estrogen levels cause the body’s heat manager, also called the hypothalamus, to respond to slight changes in body temperature. When the hypothalamus thinks the body is too warm, it starts a chain of events in the form of a hot flash to cool down”.6

Other Causes

Apart from menopause, what are other causes of hot flushes?

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“Rarely, something other than menopause causes hot flashes and nights sweats. Other causes may include medicine side effects, problems with the thyroid, some cancers and side effects of cancer treatment”.7

Common or Not

How common are hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats according to the Menopause Society:

“Hot flashes and night sweats, also called vasomotor symptoms, are feelings of warmth that can be associated with flushing and sweating. They are quite common during menopause, occurring in up to 80% of women and lasting a mean of 7 to 10 years”.8

Impact

What impact may hot flushes have?

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

“Hot flashes may affect daily activities and quality of life. Nighttime hot flashes, also called night sweats, can wake you from sleep. Over time, this can cause long-term sleep loss”.9

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“VMS severely impact well-being, the effect being similar to having insecure housing”.10

Depression

Is there an association between hot flushes and depressive symptoms?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“Women with moderate to severe VMS are up to three-fold more likely to have moderate–severe depressive symptoms than other women”.11

Heart Disease and Bone Loss

Is there an association between hot flushes, risk of heart disease and greater bone loss?

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

“Research suggests that people who have hot flashes may have a higher risk of heart disease and greater bone loss than people who don’t have hot flashes”.12

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”.13

Treatment Options

What are the two categories of treatment options for hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: Care and Treatment – How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“In general, there are two categories of treatment options for hot flashes: prescription medications and over-the-counter (nonprescription) therapies.

Some prescription medications are used as off-label treatments to help reduce hot flashes. Using a product “off label” means that it’s not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hot flashes, but it can be safe and effective as a treatment option. There are also lifestyle changes you can make to help manage hot flashes”.14

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy one of the most effective treatment for hot flushes?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: potential Benefits, published February 2025, the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats”.15

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“The best way to relieve hot flashes is to take estrogen. But taking this hormone carries risks. If estrogen is right for you and you start it within 10 years of your last menstrual period or before age 60, the plusses can be greater than the risks.

Medicines such as antidepressants and anti-seizure medicines also might help ease hot flashes. But they don’t work as well as hormones do”.16

Alternative Therapies

Do alternative therapies improve hot flushes?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

“Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HRT”.17

Stop

When do hot flushes stop?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms and Causes – Symptoms the Mayo Clinic explain:

“On average, people who have hot flashes have them for more than seven years. Some people have them for more than 10 years”.18

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: Overview – What Are Hot Flashes? according to the Cleveland Clinic:

“Even though hot flashes are common, it doesn’t mean you have to accept it as normal. There are ways to manage hot flashes and improve your quality of life. Talk to a healthcare provider if you need relief from hot flashes. They can discuss what options are available for you based on your symptoms and health history”.19

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare professional about the pros and cons of treatments for hot flashes. If hot flashes don’t bother you much, you likely don’t need treatment. For most people, hot flashes go away slowly, even without treatment. But it can take several years for them to stop”.20

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z 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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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. An Ob-Gyn’s Top Tips for Managing Hot Flashes
  3. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  5. Can Hot Flashes Be Managed Through Diet?
  6. Can Hot Flashes Cause Nausea?
  7. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  8. Cold Flashes During Menopause: Is It Normal?
  9. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  11. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
    Hot Flushes Differences
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Healthcare Visit
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  16. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In Video
  17. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  18. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  19. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  20. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  21. HRT Questions Answered
  22. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  23. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  24. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  25. Heart Palpitations
  26. Heart Palpitations
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  28. Hormone Therapy: Four Things A Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Specialist Wants You To Know [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/CG: Taryn Smith, M.D./Internal Medicine/Mayo Clinic]
  29. Hot Flashes
  30. Hot Flashes
  31. Hot Flashes
  32. Hot Flashes, Anxiety and Menopause: What’s the Connection?
  33. Hot Flashes: Possible Causes – What Causes A Hot Flash? What Can Trigger A Hot Flash? Hot Flushes
  34. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  35. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  36. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  37. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
  38. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  39. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  40. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  41. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  42. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  43. Managing Your Menopausal Symptoms: Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  45. Menopause
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause
    Hot Flushes
  48. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hot Flushes
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Hot Flushes
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  52. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  53. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  54. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  55. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy
  56. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  57. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  58. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  59. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  66. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  67. Natural Therapies
  68. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Hot Flushes
  69. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  70. National Women’s Health Week 2025 [11-17 May]: Navigating the Road To Menopause
    Menopause
  71. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  72. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – Lifestyle Medicine
  73. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  74. Perimenopause
  75. Perimenopause
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  78. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  79. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
    Hot Flushes Differences
  80. Speaking of Psychology: Hot Flashes, Heart Health and Hormones: Rethinking Menopause, With Rebecca Thurston, PhD
  81. Special Report: Managing Vasomotor Symptoms In Menopause [+ Video]
  82. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  83. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
  84. Top Menopause Questions Answered: Hormones, Bones, Sex & Sleep
  85. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  86. What Are Menopause Cold Flashes?
  87. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  88. What Does A Hot Flash Feel Like?
  89. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  90. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  91. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  92. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  93. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  94. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  95. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  96. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Here’s What To Know

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms – Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 15 April 2026
  2. Menopause Definitions: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-glossary Accessed: 15 April 2026
  3. Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms – Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 15 April 2026
  4. Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 15 April 2026
  5. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  6. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  7. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  8. Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 15 April 2026
  9. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  10. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  11. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  12. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  13. 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: 15 April 2026
  14. Hot Flashes: Care and Treatment – How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? 21 October 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes Accessed: 15 April 2026
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy: Potential Benefits. February 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 15 April 2026
  16. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  17. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  18. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 15 April 2026
  19. Hot Flashes: Overview – What are Hot Flashes? 21 October 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes Accessed: 15 April 2026
  20. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 15 April 2026
Topic Last Updated: 15 April 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2026

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