Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. The cause is not clear, but is it thought that imbalanced hormone levels may be responsible. It is possible that hot flashes may also cause depleted levels of potassium, in which case increasing potassium intake may be helpful. If you are experiencing hot flashes, you should consult your doctor.
Hot Flashes
When you are experiencing a hot flash, waves of heat sweep throughout the body and over the face. This often causes the skin to redden and a sheen of perspiration to appear on the skin's surface. A hot flash can last anywhere from a few seconds to an hour. Hot flashes often occur at night; this is known as a night sweat. Night sweats may also be accompanied by sudden feelings of fear or anxiety. While not every woman will experience hot flashes or night sweats, some women may experience both.
Significance
Potassium levels may become depleted if hot flashes or night sweats occur frequently, as potassium is lost through perspiration. According to the MayoClinic.com, extremely low levels of potassium, known as hypokalemia, can cause a number of symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle cramps and constipation. A blood test will show if you are suffering from low potassium. According to Health Quest, increasing magnesium intake may also help because magnesium helps to maintain a balanced body temperature.
Potassium Sources
If you need to replenish potassium that was lost through hot flashes or night sweats, consume foods that are high in potassium. Foods that contain a lot of potassium, but few calories include raisins, dates, cantaloupes, avocados, peaches, bananas, apricots, grapefruits, watermelons, oranges, prune juice, tomato juice, baked potatoes including the skin, kidney beans, lima beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini, lentils, pumpkin, sweet potato and split peas.
Magnesium Sources
For dietary sources of magnesium, University of Maryland Medical Center recommends Brazil nuts, almonds, chocolate, cocoa powder, beet greens, wheat bran, tofu, cruciferous vegetables, whole grains, blackstrap molasses, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, black walnuts, squash seeds, baked potatoes, oatmeal, dried mustard, fennel, seaweed, bananas and pine nuts.
Herbal Sources
A number of herbal supplements are also rich in potassium and magnesium, such as burdock, capsicum, catnip, dong-quai, dandelion, cayenne, garlic, ginger, hops, horsetail, nettle, parsley, plantain, red clover, and sage. You should always consult your doctor before taking an herbal supplement.
