Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms that women experience during their transition into menopause. Suddenly feeling hot and sweaty out of the blue can be disruptive and uncomfortable. But by learning more about why hot flashes happen and how to manage them naturally, you can keep cool while navigating daily life.
What are hot flashes?
Hot flashes are a sudden surge of heat or warmth, mostly felt in your upper body – face, neck and chest. You might notice that your face turns red and your skin has a blotchy appearance. It may also be accompanied by sweating, a rapid heartbeat, and feelings of anxiety. Right after a hot flash, you may feel cold. This happens if you lose too much body heat very fast.
Hot flashes can also happen at night, getting in the way of a good night’s sleep. During the night, they’re known as night sweats.
Hot flashes can come suddenly throughout your day. And how long each episode lasts will vary. While some last only a few seconds, others can go on for more than 10 minutes. Additionally, some individuals may experience a few hot flashes per week, while others may undergo many per hour.
Depending on the person, hot flashes can start in the early stages of menopause (perimenopause), during menopause, or even after the end of the menopausal stage.
Why do we experience hot flashes during menopause?
Hot flashes are usually a result of hormonal changes that we experience before, during, and after menopause. We don’t know exactly how these hormonal changes cause hot flashes. However, research suggests that they happen when a drop in estrogen levels leads the hypothalamus to become sensitive to temperature changes in the body. The hypothalamus is the area of the brain that regulates and controls our body temperature. When it thinks the body is too hot, it initiates a hot flash to cool you down as fast as possible. During a hot flash, blood vessels near the surface of the skin widen to bring down your body temperature. This makes you sweat, which is what helps to cool you down quickly.
Factors that can trigger hot flashes
Although we may not know the exact cause of hot flashes, there are some known factors that trigger them. While this varies depending on the individual, some common triggers include:
- Alcohol
- Caffeinated foods
- Spicy foods
- Hot environments
- Tight clothing
- Smoking
Try to take notice of the symptoms that you experience and what you were doing when you felt them. This can help you spot patterns and gain a better understanding of your personal triggers so you know what to avoid.
Ways to naturally ease hot flashes
In addition to keeping track of your symptoms and triggers, there are some tactics that you can incorporate into your daily routine to help you get a handle on living with hot flashes. Here are some tips to start you off:
- Dress in layers – This way, you can easily remove clothing when you feel a hot flash coming on.
- Keep cold water on hand to cool your body during a hot flash.
- Using ice packs can also help cool you down.
- Use cotton sheets and wear cotton clothing as much as possible. Cotton helps your skin breathe and decreases any irritations.
- Keep an eye on your stress levels and make sure to check-in with yourself when things start to feel a little too overwhelming.
Although these lifestyle habits can be very beneficial to help us manage hot flashes, sometimes we need more support. 
CanPrev’s Meno Chill is designed to help relieve uncomfortable symptoms that can come with menopause. It contains EstroG-100® herbs, KSM-66® ashwagandha and zinc bis-glycinate. EstroG-100® consists of three herbal extracts commonly used in Korean folk medicine – Cynanchum wilfordii, Phlomis umbrosa and Angelica gigas nakai. These herbs have been clinically proven to reduce symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, joint pain, and vaginal dryness. KSM-66® is the world’s most clinically studied ashwagandha extract and is known to help relieve feelings of stress and anxiety. Zinc bis-glycinate offers superior absorption and gentleness on the bowels while supporting hormone regulation and alleviating menopause symptoms.
Whether you’re looking for a fast-acting formula to help with menopause symptoms or to balance menopausal mood, Meno Chill is here to help. Understanding how you can naturally manage hot flashes can help you live freely and enjoy your golden years.
Sources:
Hot Flashes
Understanding and Dealing with Hot Flashes
Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
Introduction to Menopause
