Hot flashes

Hot flashes are among the most common symptoms of the first stage of menopause.

A hot flash is the sudden sensation of heat in the face, neck and chest—and occasionally throughout the rest of the body—caused by a sudden enlargement of blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Hot flashes can be very mild (feeling a little warmth in the face) or very severe (becoming red in the face and sweating excessively). The most severe hot flashes may include symptoms similar to a panic attack, including dizziness, fear of loss of control, rapid heartbeat, sweating and trembling. Some women will experience a cold chill after a hot flash, while a few women report feeling only the chill. Some women with severe hot flashes also report experiencing a headache after other hot flash symptoms subside.

Following are some ways to help you ease hot flashes.

There are many effective medications for hot flashes, including:

• Hormone therapy (HT), including patches, pills, gels and vaginal rings – Stabilizes estrogen levels in your body; symptoms usually improve within 10 days of starting therapy
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – Are used to treat depression and anxiety, but also been shown to relieve menopause symptoms
• Gabapentin – Approved by the FDA treat epilepsy and nerve pain; can also help with hot flashes and has a sedative effect
• Clonidine – Lowers blood pressure by modifying how blood vessels respond to the body’s instructions to release heat quickly; can help alleviate hot flashes