When a woman goes through menopause, she often experiences what is known as vasomotor symptoms, which are symptoms involving the dilation or the constriction of the blood vessels. As hormone levels fluctuate during this transitory time of life, they trigger a widening (dilation) within those blood vessels near the surface of the skin as well as other areas of the body, prompting mild to severe symptoms.
Hot Flashes
Of all the vasomotor symptoms involving menopause, hot flashes are by far the most common. With the sudden drop of estrogen, the hypothalamus, a small segment of the brain located near its base, has some difficulty regulating the temperature of your body. This usually causes a sudden, sometimes overwhelming, sensation of warmth within your skin. If this vasomotor symptom is severe, you'll tend to undergo this feeling much more frequently and intensely, even to the point where it disrupts your daily life.
Flushing
Often accompanying these hot flashes is the vasomotor symptom of flushing, which is an abrupt reddening to the skin. The increase in body temperature causes the blood vessels nearer the skin to dilate, increasing blood flow to the affected areas of the body and causing this flushed appearance. With more severe vasomotor symptoms, the frequency of the flushing is at a much higher rate.
Perspiration
Another common vasomotor symptom is perspiration. Much like flushing, sweating is typically associated with hot flashes. But when the severity of your symptoms is high, you'll undergo much more excessive periods of perspiration.
Night Sweats
It's also normal to experience menopausal night sweats, which are basically hot flashes that happen while you're asleep. With this vasomotor symptom, you undergo an elevation in body temperature that triggers excessive sweating that wakes you from your slumber. Severe night sweats may drench your sheets, cause insomnia and occur a number of times during the night. They may even prompt some nausea.
Heart Palpitations
If vasodilation or vasoconstriction occurs within the blood vessels to your heart, you'll experience heart palpitations. In this situation, the drop in hormones could momentarily increase or decrease the amount of blood flowing to your heart, triggering a rapid or pounding heart beat.
Dizziness
Menopause may also cause the vasomotor symptom of dizziness or lightheadedness. Vasoconstriction of the blood vessels to the brain decreases the amount of oxygen transported to this area of your body, resulting in a passing sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness. When this symptom is severe, it's more inclined to occur on frequent basis and could even cause you to faint.
