1. One Hot Topic
During a hot flash, you suddenly feel slightly warm to very hot in your face, neck and upper body, and you may break out in a sweat. These episodes usually last a few minutes, but they can be quite intense and leave you flushed and damp. Hot flashes usually occur early in the morning or in the evening, but they can happen at any time. They may even manifest as night sweats. It is usually women who get hot flashes, most often when going through menopause. However, these symptoms can occur in some men.
2. See the Connection Between Estrogen and the Body's Thermostat
Hot flashes are more likely to occur when the body's estrogen level drops. This is why they coincide with menopause. Estrogen helps the region of the brain called the hypothalamus regulate body temperature. When estrogen is low, the hypothalamus may send the body faulty temperature control information. Women also experience hot flashes at points in their monthly menstrual cycle when estrogen levels are lowest. Women who take birth control pills on a twenty-one day cycle can have hot flashes during the week they are off the medication.
3. Don't Think You're Safe Just Because You're a Man
Although hot flashes are strongly associated in most people's minds with women's reproductive cycles, men also get hot flashes. Men undergoing hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, for example, can experience the phenomenon, as can men with low testosterone. Alcohol consumption and drinking hot beverages are among the things that can cause men to have hot flashes.
4. Review the External Triggers
Although a biological process is involved in hot flashes, there are numerous external factors that can trigger them, and these vary for different people. Among commonly-reported triggers are stress, alcohol or caffeine consumption, smoking and eating spicy food. Some people find that heat sources, including hot tubs, electric blankets or saunas, can trigger the condition. Medications, especially those used to treat high blood pressure, depression or anxiety, also can cause hot flashes.
5. Stay Cool
Keeping a log of triggers so that you can avoid them is one way to decrease the number of hot flashes you experience. Maintaining a healthy body weight also may help. Exercise, relaxation training, stress reduction and eating low-fat and less spicy foods can decrease the frequency of your attacks. Some people take hormone supplements to reduce symptoms. For those who don't go that route, alternative therapies like traditional Chinese medicine, herbal remedies and massage also may offer relief.
