When a woman has gone 12 straight months without a period, she has reached menopause. The time after menopause is post-menopause, which lasts for the remainder of a woman's life. The hot flashes common during the transition to menopause often continue into post-menopause. Treatment options for the relief of hot flashes during post menopause are the same as for those during the transition to menopause.
Considerations
The hot flashes typically associated with menopause usually taper off during post-menopause. Some women, however, continue to have hot flashes for many years afterward. Many of these women have mild symptoms and require no treatment. Others have severe hot flashes that interfere with daily life.
Types
Treatment for post-menopausal hot flashes varies according to the level of discomfort. If you have moderate to severe hot flashes, your doctor might suggest hormone therapy. If you elect not to use hormone therapy, other prescription medications are available that provide relief from hot flashes. For mild cases, lifestyle changes are all that is necessary to manage the discomfort. Dietary supplements also offer some relief from hot flashes.
Features
Estrogen therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the most effective treatment for hot flashes, but if you are at risk for heart disease or have ever had breast cancer or a blood clot, your doctor likely will recommend progesterone therapy instead. Nonhormonal prescription medications often provide some relief from hot flashes. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved these medicines specifically to treat hot flashes, but it has approved them to treat other conditions. They include some antidepressants, such as Zoloft and Paxil, gabapentin (Neurontin), a medicine used to treat seizures and pain from shingles, and clonidine, a medication approved to treat high blood pressure. Dietary supplements that sometimes help with hot flashes include black cohosh, soy and red clover.
Prevention/Solution
Although it isn't possible to prevent post-menopausal hot flashes altogether, making some lifestyle changes will provide relief for mild to moderate cases. Certain triggers have been identified that cause hot flashes to occur more frequently or to be more severe. The most common triggers, according to the Cleveland Clinic, are caffeine, stress, alcohol, cigarette smoke and spicy foods. Other lifestyle adjustments that help control hot flashes include daily exercise, practicing slow, deep abdominal breathing and doing relaxation exercises such as yoga or meditation. Taking simple measures to keep cool also provide relief. Keep the air flowing by opening a window or using a fan or air conditioner, dress in layers so that you can remove clothing when you feel a hot flash coming on and drink a cold beverage to lower core body temperature during a hot flash.
Warning
Hormone therapy for hot flashes has risks associated with heart disease and breast cancer. Dietary supplements have no governmental regulation and can interact with other medications. The North American Menopause Society recommends consultation with a health care provider when making decisions about treatment for hot flashes.
