{"id":1546,"date":"2022-06-09T08:25:38","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T08:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/?p=1546"},"modified":"2022-07-20T08:34:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T08:34:00","slug":"the-causes-and-best-treatments-for-hot-flashes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/the-causes-and-best-treatments-for-hot-flashes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Causes and Best Treatments for Hot Flashes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mama Mia! Here you go again.<\/span><\/p>\n

You have this sudden feeling of unexplained heat in your upper body. You may sweat profusely. It could be daytime. It could be nighttime.<\/span><\/p>\n

It could be hot flashes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hot flashes are often associated with natural perimenopause and menopause. About 70% of women in the US experience hot flashes once they reach menopause age. Hot flashes are also common in women who experience surgical menopause after ovary removal surgery or chemotherapy. And it\u2019s not uncommon to have hot flashes during pregnancy or after giving birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Hot Flashes?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hot flashes are often described as sudden heat sensations that are occasionally accompanied by sweating and facial redness. An episode can last a minute or longer and can be mild or severe. Some women have hot flashes at night as well as night sweats which can disrupt their sleep pattern on a short-term or long-term basis. Others experience them during the day. When hot flashes are followed by face and neck redness, they are referred to as hot flushes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Hot Flashes During Menopause?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Mature<\/p>\n

The culprits are your hormone levels which change during and after menopause and pregnancy. Though the connection is not exactly clear, a hot flash is usually triggered by a decrease in your estrogen level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?<\/b><\/h2>\n

No two women are the same which is why we each have different experiences. Some women never experience hot flashes during menopause. Others experience hot flashes for a relatively short time, while others report having them for 11 years or more. Based on that, the average lasting time of hot flashes\/night sweats is about seven years.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Long Do Hot Flashes Last During Pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hot flashes during pregnancy can start at any point, but are most common during the third trimester. However, about 18% of women report experiencing hot flashes within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is estimated that 35% of women tend to have hot flashes during pregnancy, while 29% even have them after childbirth. When it comes to postpartum hot flashes, they tend to be the strongest about two weeks after delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Hot Flashes During Pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hot flashes during or after pregnancy, like the menopausal type, are related to fluctuating levels of estrogen.<\/span><\/p>\n

During pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone levels rise in order to provide a perfect environment for healthy fetal development. It\u2019s this hormonal spike that can also cause hot flashes in pregnancy. Since the blood flow in the body is increased, pregnant women could feel heat sensations from time to time, break out in sweat suddenly, and appear red in their face and neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Deal with Hot Flashes?<\/b><\/h2>\n

While there is generally little you can do to eliminate hot flashes, there are ways to minimize the severity. Here are some common triggers to avoid:<\/span><\/p>\n