Hot Flushes

“About 80% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face”.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?

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

“About 80% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face. They can also spread over your whole body.

The flushes may feel like a burning, overheating sensation. You may also have reddening of the skin and different degrees of sweating. When a flush happens at night, it’s called a night sweat”.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 Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the JH explain:

“We don’t know exactly what causes hot flushes. Lower oestrogen levels may affect parts of the brain that regulate your body temperature. Many studies suggest that stress and anxiety can influence the frequency and intensity of hot flushes. Some foods or alcohol can also have an impact”.6

Other Causes

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

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic 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. They may also contribute to sleep and mood issues that can negatively affect quality of life”.8

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence, published online 30 October 2023, the authors note:

“Findings from large Australian epidemiology studies have revealed that 74% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have VMS, 28% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have moderate to severely bothersome VMS, and 42% and 33% of women aged 60–64 years and 65–79 years, respectively, still have VMS”.9

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”.10

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”.11

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”.12

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”.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

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”.15

Hormone Therapy

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

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use which “simplifies the data in the new NAMS Position Statement for women trying to make decisions about using hormone therapy” the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats”.16

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”.17

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”.18

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”.19

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: 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”.20

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”.21

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

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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. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  6. Can Hot Flashes Be Managed Through Diet?
  7. Can Hot Flashes Cause Nausea?
  8. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  9. Cold Flashes During Menopause: Is It Normal?
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  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. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  15. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Benefits of Oral Combined MHT for Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms Treatment (EN)
  16. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  17. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  18. Find An AMS Member [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?
  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. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  39. 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
  40. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  41. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  42. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  43. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  46. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hot Flushes
  50. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Hot Flushes
  51. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  52. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  53. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  54. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  55. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  56. Menopause and HRT [Includes Breast Cancer Risk]
  57. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  58. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  59. Menopause: Identification and Management NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy
  60. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  61. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  62. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  63. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  71. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  72. Natural Therapies
  73. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  74. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  75. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  76. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  77. One Year Out: Fezolinetant Displays Patient Satisfaction for Managing Hot Flashes
  78. Perimenopause
  79. Perimenopause
  80. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  81. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  82. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  83. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  84. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
  85. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  86. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  87. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  88. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  89. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – A Simple Approach To Menopausal Assessment and Management
  91. Webinars: Previous – IMS & ISE Symposium: What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  92. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. What Are Menopause Cold Flashes?
  95. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  96. What Does A Hot Flash Feel Like?
  97. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  98. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  100. Hot Flushes World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 08 April 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 10 April 2025
  2. Menopause Definitions: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-glossary Accessed: 10 April 2025
  3. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 08 April 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 10 April 2025
  4. Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 10 April 2025
  5. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  6. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 08 April 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 10 April 2025
  7. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  8. Hot Flashes: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 10 April 2025
  9. 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: 10 April 2025
  10. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  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: 10 April 2025
  12. 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: 10 April 2025
  13. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  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: 10 April 2025
  15. 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: 10 April 2025
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy. 2022:1. Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 10 April 2025
  17. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  18. 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: 10 April 2025
  19. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 10 April 2025
  20. Hot Flashes: Overview – What are Hot Flashes? 21 October 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes Accessed: 10 April 2025
  21. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 10 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 03 May 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 April 2025

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